Mario Alberico

Chicago, United States

About the Artist
I am a survivor of a rare bone cancer and I underwent two years of experimental chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Making art became an outlet for me to capture the emotional experience of a life with cancer. And the treatment led to a spiritual catharsis from a numinous experience I had while painting called Contemplation, a sublime state of interior union with God. Then I began exploring my faith by capturing the essence of trees and crosses as metaphors for becoming a cancer survivor. Art helps me explore the paradox of the union of physical and emotional suffering with the magnificence of being and existence. Encouraging the viewer to partake in the artistic process and bridge the gap between art and life is fundamental to the aesthetic experience. By making the choice, the participant takes part in a journey to the deeper understanding of arts sublime power to simultaneously confront suffering and celebrate the beauty of life.