ART’S ‘NOT A MIRROR, BUT LIFE ITSELF’
Celina Paredes is dubbed an “ala prima” painter, which means that her works are usually finished within one seating. “IN SE” was launched on March 17 and lasted until March 25.
Apainting is a conception of the human mind. An artist gives birth to it with the use of her hands and the strokes of her brush. When it comes to be, it exists and it is in itself a thing of nature rather than just a mere reflection of reality. Unlike other forms of art, paintings are unique in a way that they carry with them a visual and emotional experience within them by the time they are conceived, which varies for different people. Despite all that, a painting continues to be a thing of its own. It can be touched. It can be bought and carried as it exists in reality as what it portrays.
Challenging the usual concept of paintings as art, artist Celina Paredes opened her exhibition entitled “IN SE” to introduce the concept that art exists in reality as the objects it portrays. In her exhibit, Celina puts into perspective common things that exist but are not given much attention, bringing them in the realm of aesthetics that paintings create.
“IN SE, my first solo show, is about my reflection on the art of painting. More than just looking at it as a creative art, I looked at painting as first an object in itself. How paintings are able to exist in space makes them also fall under philosophical speculation. Borrowing the metaphysics of the neo-Thomist philosopher Etienne Gilson, I represent through a series of painted commonplace objects the relationship between painting and reality,” said Celina.
“IN SE” is a Latin phrase which translates to “in itself.” Existing in itself is what the 21-year-old artist hopes to convey to her audience.
“I wanted to give a different kind of perspective on the art of painting; as an object in itself. Usually, we look at a painting through the story it gives or how well it depicted its likeness to nature. But painting is not an imitation of nature but rather an original piece, handcrafted by the hand of its creator. This creative art is a very human act since it is both a coordination of the hand and mind, reason and intuition,” said Celina.
The exhibit was displayed on the second floor of the Church of St. Arnold and St. Joseph in the University of San Carlos - Talamban Campus. The artist explained that the church was designed according to the Second Vatican Council’s redefinition of the church not only as place of worship but as a community center open to secular cultural activities.
“I chose the church as a home for the still-life paintings, hoping to give a spiritual ambience to my work. As the audience entered, they became set in that specific atmosphere, suggesting some holiness to even the smallest of things. The same way that God sees all things, painters do not just paint what is already beautiful in nature but are makers of beautiful things. I felt that this emphasizes the difference between artistic beauty and natural beauty,” said Celina.