John Marak

John Marak is a second-generation artist based in Kansas City, Missouri- He worked as a graphic designer for 35 years and has been painting and sculpting for the past 15 years- He uses metal, plaster, cement, and sometimes glue in his work- His sculptural paintings are inspired by how nature transforms surfaces, colors, and forms capturing a sense of history and the passing of time- John's aesthetic is influenced by Wabi-sabi, a Japanese worldview centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection- The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete-” Wabi connotes rustic simplicity, freshness, or quietness- It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to an object- Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear.

Courtesy of Cerbera Gallery