"Reverie is not a mind vacuum. It is rather the gift of an hour which knows the plenitude of the soul."
— Gaston Bachelard
This exhibition is inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s philosophy of reverie, a state where imagination and memory merge to reveal hidden truths about the self and the world. Rather than an escape, reverie offers a space for contemplation beyond time—an immersion into the subconscious where reality dissolves into poetic reflection.
Reynier Llanes embodies this vision, creating works that serve as gateways to introspection, where emotions surface freely and compositions unfold as both deeply personal and universally resonant. Reverie is not about escaping life’s struggles but about reinterpreting them, offering a space where emotions, memories, and aspirations intertwine.
At the heart of Reverie is The Poet, an ethereal figure drifting between memory and imagination, past and present. This enigmatic presence observes fleeting yet profound moments—self-discovery, love, loss, and resilience—becoming a vessel for the viewer’s own reflections. Within this quiet space, thoughts untangle, and time momentarily softens. The Poet is both wanderer and witness, a keeper of memory who embodies the ever-shifting human condition.
This exhibition introduces the latest works from The Poet series, where Llanes bridges ancestral echoes with contemporary realities. His paintings serve as portals into dreamscapes imbued with folklore, nostalgia, and a profound sense of humanity.
Among them is Solar, a luminous composition embracing a brighter palette, symbolizing renewal and the pursuit of beauty despite adversity. A radiant figure emerges from an ocean of gold, dissolving into the surrounding textures. The entire canvas vibrates with warmth, as if The Poet has merged with the sun itself, embodying transcendence.
In Stellar, The Poet is suspended in the vastness of the cosmos, gazing into an expanse teeming with celestial fragments. The golden hues of the figure resonate with swirling cosmic dust, evoking humanity’s search for meaning among the stars.
Echoes juxtaposes time and presence, depicting a modern woman leaning against an old telephone booth, while The Poet—ghostly and translucent—listens intently from the other side. The contrast between their worlds is palpable, exploring connection, distance, and the silent conversations between past and present.
Other works in the exhibition further examine solitude, nostalgia, and transformation. In The Portal, a spectral figure steps through a rainbow cascading into the sea, crossing from one realm into another—dissolving in light and color, embodying the beauty of the unknown.
Thoughts places The Poet in deep contemplation, reminiscent of The Thinker, yet rendered in an ethereal, melting translucency. The figure merges with the atmosphere, as though thought itself is eroding the boundaries of the physical world.
Beyond personal and cultural narratives, Llanes delves into contemporary discussions on artificial intelligence, consciousness, and immortality. As technology advances and raises questions about preserving human memory beyond physical existence, The Poet serves as a metaphor for the soul—an eternal essence that continues to accumulate knowledge and experience, beyond time and space. Like reverie, which allows the mind to wander freely through past, present, and imagined futures, The Poet becomes a keeper of collective memory and the evolving human experience.
As Llanes reflects:
"Art holds a mirror up to society, reflecting its interests and concerns while at the same time challenging its ideologies and preconceptions. During difficult times, it is easy to get caught up in fear and to retract from humanity. As an artist, I feel it is my responsibility to express myself and to record the human experience for future generations. Art is a vehicle for communication and awareness. It is my duty to bring light to our current situation and to honor those who fight for our future."
With this sentiment, Reverie extends an invitation—to step into Llanes’ world, to lose oneself in its depth, and to emerge with renewed insight. Here, art becomes a bridge between past and present, between the seen and the unseen, between what was, what is, and what could be. In the stillness of contemplation, we find echoes of our own stories, waiting to be heard.
