Aeneas - Into Legacy

Aeneas - Into Legacy
Digital painting
by Arilès


Artwork Statement
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Some paths are not taken for victory — they are taken for meaning.

In mythology, Aeneas walks not toward conquest, but toward responsibility.
He carries the ashes of his city, the weight of memory, and the hope of something not yet built.
He walks forward through loss, through silence, through rain.
Not for applause — but because someone must.

This painting is my Aeneas.

Ronaldinho, in this moment, is not the magician. Not the joy. Not the spark.
He is the one who remains when all of that fades — when the game becomes myth, and the player becomes memory.
He walks toward the field as if toward something final. Not an ending. A passage.

I chose the title Into Legacy because what matters here is not the goal, not the dribble, not the play.
It’s the walk itself. The gesture of showing up.
Of stepping out, soaked in past triumphs and future silence, and still moving forward.

Aeneas is not about performance.
It’s about what endures. About what is carried when the crowd disappears and the lights blur into rain.
This is not about Ronaldinho the player.
This is about what he left behind.


Arilès



BIO
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Arilès is a multidisciplinary artist from Paris based in New York whose work explores identity, movement, and the emotional power of iconic figures.
Over the past two decades, he has built a prolific career as a visual artist between Paris and New York.
As a painter, his work has been exhibited in world-renowned museums such as the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, and the Palais de Tokyo.
As a creative director, Arilès has conceived and produced images, videos, and visual narratives for global icons such as Dior, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Hermès.


Disclaimer
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This artwork is an original, independent tribute created in celebration of Ronaldinho’s cultural and athletic legacy.
It is a work of fine art and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Nike, the Brazil national football team, or any other brand, entity, or organization depicted or referenced.
All trademarks and logos, if visually suggested, are used artistically and not for commercial endorsement.
This piece reflects the artist’s expression and is offered solely as collectible art.