MAAS

Biography of MAAS
Miguel Angel Amortegui is an acclaimed photojournalist and writer with a career spanning over 20
years. Alongside his impactful work in documenting conflict zones, refugee camps, poverty, sexual
violence, and famine, Miguel has found a
profound and therapeutic form of expression in painting.
This passion for art began in his childhood, as he accompanied his mother to her art classes at the
University of Bogotá, Colombia. There, surrounded by oils and pastels, he spent hours emulating the
work of renowned artists, laying the foundation for his artistic journey.
Painting has become a vital outlet for Miguel, helping him to process and express the intense and
often haunting experiences he encounters in his photojournalism work. Through his
art, he aims to
capture the dignity and resilience of the people he photographs, portraying the complexity of human
emotions and stories that are sometimes too profound to be captured by the camera alone.
Miguel’s paintings are a vivid exploration of huma
n existence, filled with vibrant colours that depict a
range of feelings, from happiness and hope to sadness and trauma. His works feature characters
experiencing the full spectrum of human emotions, painted with both bright and dark strokes to
represent t
heir joy as well as their wounds. These characters are depicted with an X
–
ray
–
like
transparency, revealing the many layers of complexity that define who we are.
A distinctive feature of Miguel’s art is the portrayal of hands without joints, symbolizing th
e
incapacitation and impotence people often feel in the face of life’s challenges. This artistic choice
underscores the struggle and resilience that characterize the human spirit, themes that are central to
both his photographic and painted works.
Miguel’
s return to painting has been a therapeutic process, allowing him to capture the invisible
aspects of his experiences
—
those that cannot be photographed but are nonetheless deeply real. His
canvases are filled with the vibrancy of life, depicting stories of
loss, hope, love, and passion. Each
stroke is imbued with the emotions and experiences of the people he has encountered, making his art a
powerful narrative medium.
We are delighted to present the extraordinary works of Miguel Angel Amortegui Salamanca (
MAAS),
a local artist whose unique blend of Neo
–
Expressionism, Contemporary, and Primitivism captivates
the imagination and challenges the senses. Through a diverse array of mediums, including painting,
sculpture, film, and photography, Miguel crafts power
ful narratives that speak to the complexities of
the human experience.