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
- Personalized Creations: Each product is custom-made just for you, making it unique and special. As a result, all orders are final. We do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
- Our Commitment: We stand by the quality and craftsmanship of our products. However, in rare instances, your order may become damaged during transit.
- Reporting Issues: If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your package. Send clear photos of the damage and the packaging.
- Resolution Process: We will review your photos and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair or replace the damaged item. This process may take up to 30 business days. While we aim to resolve issues within this timeframe, it may extend beyond it. Replacements are subject to our current manufacturing and shipping schedules. Note that you may be responsible for return shipping costs.
- Product Defects: If you believe your product is defective (not just damaged in transit), please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your order. Provide clear photos and a description of the defect. We will review and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair, replace, or refund the item.
- Our Promise: We use the finest archival materials and hand-assemble each frame to ensure top 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, contact us within 48 hours. Please include photos of the shipping box and the damage, along with your order number. We will work with you to resolve the issue, although we do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
- Inspection Upon Arrival: If your artwork is shipped to a third-party receiver (e.g., warehouse, installer, framer), please ensure it is inspected upon arrival. Any damage must be documented immediately by sending clear photos of the damage and the packaging. Once the artwork is checked in at the warehouse, ownership transfers to you.
- Placing Orders: Orders outside the continental U.S.,. Hawaii, and Alaska will not be accepted through our website. International clients must place orders privately by emailing me at marco@ma9.co. The buyer is responsible for shipping, duties, and any other costs associated with international shipping.
- Scope of Liability: Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the product. We are not responsible for any incidental or consequential damages.
- Resolution Process: Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved as per our Terms of Use.
- Visibility Requirement: Our return policy is clearly posted on our website and at the point of sale. This ensures compliance with state-specific laws requiring conspicuous posting of return policies.