Post-it Affirmation Art no.3

"Major and minor decisions: Do not delay!!!"

Pambihirang Guniguni

They say that a painting or art doesn't need verbal explanation. All the things that the viewer might want to know is already there on the painting itself, readily digested—visually. 

That is just one of the ways of seeing art or a painting, if one wants to decipher its message. 

My painting for the Looking for Juan banner project, on first look, seems unrelated to the specific theme relayed to me, which was to depict what it means to be Filipino. One might even comment how on earth is that work all about Pinoy? I could hardly think of a specific subject to work on because to define our people or nation is as diverse as our flora and fauna: each is unique that makes up the whole. Working on a tight schedule and with no specific subject in mind, I tried to paint anything on the canvas. While paint-doodling, I thought maybe it is better to avoid patriotic cliches, pessimism, or sarcasm. Why not tackle on positive points of view? I thought art perhaps doesn't need be heavy to be meaningful or powerful. Then it dawned on me, maybe I could celebrate Pinoy creativity itself.

I prefer not to explain every bits of my painting, I'd like to leave something for the viewer to figure out. Explaining the work takes out its mystery, just like when you specifically describe the artistic Filipino. But here's what I wrote so people can be able to grasp a little story about it:

“Pambihirang Guniguni” (Exceptional Imagination)

24”x 48”

Acrylic on canvas

As an illustrator, the artwork is my interpretation of the ingenuity of the Filipino creative: a hybridity of styles and cultures that resulted to powerful imagination, liberal spirit, and diversity of technical expertise. We may have been bound from the colonial past, but I believe the concoction and transmission of cultures has positively shaped the Filipino artist today: responsive to the changing times and globally competitive.

If you are interested in this original painting, please contact CANVAS or 1/of Gallery at:

CANVAS

1/of Gallery, 2nd Level Shops at Serendra

Global City, Metro Manila
Philippines

Tel. (+632) 901.3152
Email:  info@canvas.ph
Blog:  lookingforjuan.blogspot.com

Proceeds will be used to fund projects that promote Philippine art and culture.

This painting, together with other originals of the project is on view until July 7, 2009 at the:

Alab Art Space of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Building

351 Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City

Open to public mon-fri 9am-6pm

Sinugdanan Artist's Summit

"May Nilaga ang May Tiyaga"

"Magsumikap ang May Pangarap"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I think what our people need is an inspiration. What better way to feed the soul than through art. From a sound mind and soul, every wonderful things follow: you think and do right, care for others, and strive to prosper.

My work is a visual affirmation, these are illustrations that depict positive reinforcement. We usually counteract negative feelings and behaviors by repeatedly saying positive phrases. In this work, I used visual images to deploy that effect. Our mind works magically as it controls us through our thoughts. Therefore, we should always be careful about what we are thinking, it is important to think positively. The paintings are rendered in a simple and whimsical style so that every viewer can easily grasp their meaning, working the images way to their minds subliminally. Visual images and texts are so powerful that they influence most of our lives. Hopefully my paintings create lasting happy impressions thereby viewers getting inspired and consequently urges to take positive actions. 

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This is my work from the Sinugdanan Artist's Summit in Bohol. Should you be interested in any paintings from the summit, please contact The Outlooke Point Foundation at info@theopf.org

Proceeds will be used to fund projects that promote Philippine art and culture.