René Serrano Rodriguez Blog

The Endless River Project is a series of four large-scale paintings that explore the current environmental condition of Lake Pátzcuaro , which has been severely affected by recurring droughts in recent years. The project was supported by a grant from my country’s Ministry of Culture, through the Established Artists Program in Michoacán—an important validation of my artistic practice. The project was originally titled Antes de que nos olviden (“Before We Are Forgotten”), but I later chose a title that felt more universal and more deeply connected to the symbolism of the Day of the Dead . The final title of the project is The Endless River Project . The series is inspired by the flora of Lake Pátzcuaro—also known as Uranden—the setting of Michoacán’s traditional Night of the Dead celebrations. This ritual has fascinated me since childhood. Its significance in my personal life is such that my wife and I were married on November 2, crossing the lake by boat that night in the midst of a ...

Signs of life *SOL20251206 (King Achoque) Mixed Media / Canvas 200 X 120 centimeters (79 X 47 Inches) 2025 Finally, the fourth and final Painting  of "The Endless River," part of the PECDA "Established Artists Grant of Michoacán"  "Signs of Life"  (King Achoque)  explores the relationship between geometric forms and organic elements to depict fragments of an imagined society. Within this envisioned aquatic environment, an apparent axolotl form emerges as a symbol of regeneration and communal vitality. A red form suggests a Canoe. Executed in acrylic and gold leaf on canvas, the piece presents a unique synthesis of Abstract Expressionism and Geometric abstraction.As I researched more and more about the Michoacán axolotl, an unplanned interest in this little creature was born. I have been navigating the lake of the area (as much as possible) but have not been able to encounter it personally. One could try to "hasten" this meeting, but that would al...

Signs of life #TP20251124 (The whale)  Mixed media / Canvas 200 X 120 cm (79 X 47 In) 2025 I am sharing with you the Third painting of my recent project "The Endless River," for the  PECDA "Established Artists Grant of Michoacán" On this occasion, I focused on the endemic fish species of the lake. My research has brought forth the following: - Pes blanco (Chirostoma estor estor) - The acúmara (Algansea lacustris) - The chehua (Alloophorus robustus) - The tiro (Goodea luitpolldii) - The achoque (Ambystoma dumerilii). Addressed in the previous delivery. Lake Pátzcuaro is the only place in the world where the pez blanco species (Chirostoma estor estor) is found, representing a species of commercial, social, and cultural importance. Currently, the fishing of this species has been seriously affected by overexploitation and the capture of small-sized individuals, in addition to the destruction of the reproduction and oviposition sites, which are mostly located in the litt...

The Relevance of the Beautiful /   Turning Point  *SOL20251007 Mixed media / Polyester resin  29 X 31 X 28 centimeters (11X12X11 inches) 2025. This year, 2025, has been a very productive and immensely creative one for me. I am in my early 50s, and I must say I find myself with an extreme urgency to create, while simultaneously feeling the need to catalog the things I have made and reflect on them. This work is named: "The Relevance of the Beautiful"  Within this work, the silhouette of a chrysalis signifies a profound process of transformation and rebirth: the dissolution of the former self in order to allow the emergence of the new. Though this metamorphosis is frequently arduous, it is indispensable for attaining fulfillment and entering a more mature phase of life, embodying the potential for growth and resilience at a critical juncture. Embedded in the surface of the chrysalis, a constellation of ping-pong balls introduces a metaphor of play as a fundamental dim...