MA9
MA9
Fine art photography by Marco Aurelio.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Deeply anchored in personal histories and ontological inquiries, I document site-specific visual ethnographies that chart new landscapes between photography and art, fusing candid portraiture with digital disassembly processes to map human disconnection, historicity, belonging, nature, memory, Otherness, and the body politic.
Drawing from the painting canon and the Latin American muralism traditions, I apply a Foucauldian Archaeology to the subjects and objects my photographs document, disassembling and recoloring the image to unconstruct the visible and mirror everyday human experience into layered meditations on being.
Through my lens, I offer a historical, primary-source haiku of the individual on the street—a visual archaeology of our psyche captured in real-time. My practice aims to preserve the essence of fleeting, dynamic human existence within the permanence of a photograph, situating the subjects and objects it documents within their immediate metanarrative and chronotopical milieux.
I hope my evolving vision enriches contemporary art discourses and dialogues, inviting viewers to engage in a deeper, reflective interaction with the political histories of our shared human experience.
BIO
Born and raised at the foot of the South American Andes within a family of generational farmers, I was exposed to native oral traditions, pre-Columbian indigenous art and cosmologies, magical-realism experiences, and the sociopolitical dynamics of the region. I earned a Liberal Arts degree from New York University, which encompassed studies in European history, anthropology, and Western philosophy. Starting as a self-taught photographer, I enhanced my craft by attending courses at The International Center of Photography and The School of Visual Arts in New York City. Following a strong academic curiosity, I ventured into archaeology and anthropology at The City College at CUNY and deepened my understanding of writing, music history, and anthropology at Columbia University. Journeys through photojournalism, editorial and portrait photography, combined with interests as varied as ontology, Eastern philosophy, physics, and the metaphysical elements in the fiction of Jorge Luis Borges, continue to shape and inform my fine art photography practice. Today, New York City is both my home and a creative sanctuary.
EXHIBITIONS
Masaccio's Dream, School of Visual Arts, New York City, 2023 (solo).
Hypertropico, Antioquia University, Nutibara Gallery, Medellin, Colombia, 2008.
Surfaces: Havasupai, Emergence, Yellowstone, School of Visual Arts, New York City, 2006 (solo).
dis [border] solve, Dinnerware Arts, Tucson, AZ, 2006.
H2O, Dinnerware Arts, Tucson, AZ, 2006.
Surfaces: Southwest by NYC, Photography on the Square, Flagstaff, AZ, 2005 (solo).
AWARDS
Man at Sunset photograph from Mask series, Editors’ Picks Competition Gallery, Lens Culture Street Photography Awards 2021.
Los Trabajos y Los Dias, Official Selection, XV Annual Latin-American Documentary Photography Exhibition. Antioquia Museum. Medellin, Colombia, 2009.
CONTACT
Email: marco@ma9.co
Tel: +1 347-772-9370 | New York City
Return Policy
Each product is custom-made specifically for you, making it unique and special. Therefore, all orders are final. We do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credits for custom creations.
Quality Assurance
We use the finest archival materials, and each frame is hand-assembled to ensure exceptional quality. Every print is color-matched to the artist’s original file and fully authenticated.
Damaged or Incorrect Orders: If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, please contact us within 48 hours with photos of the shipping box, the damage, and your order number. We will work with you to resolve the issue, although returns, refunds, exchanges, or credits are not offered.
Handling Damages
While we stand by the quality and craftsmanship of our products, rare instances of transit damage can occur.
Reporting Issues: If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving it. Include clear photos of the damage and packaging.
Resolution Process: We will assess the damage on a case-by-case basis to determine whether repair or replacement is necessary, a process which may take up to 30 business days. Replacements depend on current production and shipping schedules, and you may be responsible for return shipping costs.
Defective Products
If you believe your product is defective (distinct from transit damage), contact us within 48 hours with photos and a description of the defect. We will review and decide whether to repair, replace, or refund the item.
Third-Party Receivers
If artwork is sent to a third-party receiver, such as a warehouse, installer, or framer, please ensure inspection upon arrival. Any damage must be documented immediately with clear photos of both the damage and packaging, as ownership transfers to you once it is checked in.
International Orders
For orders outside the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, please place your order directly by contacting us via email, as we do not process international orders through the website. Buyers are responsible for all shipping, duties, and associated international costs.
Limitation of Liability
Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the product, and we are not responsible for incidental or consequential damages.
Dispute Resolution
Disputes arising from this policy will be resolved according to our Terms of Use.
Posting Policy
Our return policy is clearly posted on our website and at the point of sale to ensure compliance with state-specific laws requiring prominent posting of return policies.
For questions or assistance, including reporting damages or issues, please reach out to us at marco@ma9.co. We are here to help and ensure you have a wonderful experience with our fine art photography.