Created in 2018 by Valentina Bilbao, THE MISSION, acrylic on canvas of 72″ x 72″, is a unique extraordinary Artwork, defined by the artist as her pictorial representation of the music for The Mission movie by celebrated composer Ennio Morricone, born in Rome, Italy, in 1928. The main protagonist of the film placed in the 1740’s, Spanish Jesuit priest Father Gabriel, enters the northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguayan jungle to build a mission. The South American Guaraní natives strap Father Gabriel to a wooden cross to throw him in the Iguazu Falls. He saves his life, when reaching the top he plays his oboe and the Guaraní fascinated by the melody permit him to survive. This moment, in which the contrast among the unique sound of the oboe overcomes the whole orchestra playing violins and other instruments, is romantic and delicate, with the oboe outstanding the background melody depicting the water running on the Falls, and then, as magical drops the instruments come alive again. Valentina Bilbao is inspired by the music that she masterly interprets in her painting, as every dripping are the sounds becoming a visual and tangible artwork. The circle means Eternity and forever Love that continues to form in the canvas, while the music complemented by a human choir of voices insinuating beauty and healing, is perceived in the painting. Valentina Bilbao says: “For me music can save lives. Browns, gold, oxide tones in the painting shine, meaning that light overcomes darkness.”
