UPR Carolina to present ‘Ego Trip’ collective exhibition.

“Danzando al Ritmo de las Algas Marinas” (Dancing to the Rhythm of Seaweed), acrylic on canvas, by Yanira Delgado

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rican Association of Plastic Artists (APAP) will present “Ego Trip: El Niño Interior,” a collective exhibition featuring Puerto Rican and international artists in a deeply introspective and visually engaging showcase.

The exhibition opens next Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. in the lobby of José Paulino Hernández Miranda Library at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) in Carolina. All are welcome, according to a statement issued earlier this week. 

Ego Trip is an initiative that has evolved over the years in concept and scope. Initiated under the presidency of Norberto “Nomo” Morales at APAP as a virtual exhibition during the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform has been developed and strengthened by the new board, led by its president Jorge González, and its vice president, Vladimir Peña, who have given continuity to the project in various facets and themes.

In this edition, the conceptual axis revolves around the “inner child,” inviting each participating artist to present a work that connects with their purest, most emotional and genuine essence. The exhibition proposes a reflection on the ego as a creative engine: that inherent impulse that leads the artist to create, to affirm himself, and to project himself into the world.

Ego Trip refers to actions taken to reaffirm identity and personal value. In art, this becomes a need for expression that satisfies the creator and seeks to connect with the viewer. Each piece reflects who we are, who we feel we are, and what remains with us from childhood.

The exhibition features a diverse selection of works by local and international artists, highlighting the richness of contemporary visual art. Notable pieces include “Dancing to the Rhythm of Seaweed,” acrylic on canvas (20” x 30”) by Yanira Delgado, and “Innocence Illuminated” by John Rivas, acrylic on canvas with wooden frame (30” x 40”). Both works engage with the exhibition’s central theme, offering unique perspectives on the inner child.

The exhibition has the support of the UPR Carolina Department of Design, under the coordination of Rivas, consolidating a meeting space between academia, artistic practice and the community.

The APAP invites all lovers of studio arts and the general public to be part of this unique experience, where memory, identity and creativity converge in a high-impact visual journey.