A little happiness goes a long way

TOKYO-BASED Kapampangan artist Dennis Sun is sending a little slice of happiness our way with his upcoming art exhibition entitled “A Little Happiness, Here and There”, translated as “Kapuramput a Tula, Keni ampo Karin” into our language. Running from September 1 to October 31 at the famous Tully’s Coffee in Shinjuku, Tokyo, it also heralds a joyful season for us in the Philippines as we start to prepare for Christmas.

In his latest exhibit, Dennis will be sharing his newest paintings which are not only vibrantly colorful and marvelously whimsical but also bring happiness spiced with hope, peace, and a sigh of relief, possibly as we feel like we are on the mend from this pandemic.

I was curious to know what inspired Kuya Dennis in creating the works for this exhibit and he gladly shared with me how he finds inspiration even with the common and ordinary things. As he explained how his creativity flows, I found out how kuya Dennis is able to beautifully channel his boredom into productive creative energy, especially when his patience is tested by everyday routines such as commuting in trains, waiting at hospitals, or eating at restaurants. In those seemingly mundane moments, magic takes over, and even mere doodles transform into awesome art pieces.

Kuya Dennis is one of those people I know who continuously radiates youthful vibe through the years, ever since I first met him about sixteen years ago. His art is a mirror to his inner child which freely reigns, unbothered by cumbersome, boring problems. This inner child in the artist also resonates with the viewer, who sometimes would look poignantly at the paintings, perhaps sharing some of the blues, but sufficiently enjoys that little bit of happiness and aura of peace that comes with the works of art, especially in this latest installment.

This is the second time that Dennis will be doing a show at Tully’s, the first being just before the Tokyo Olympics two summers ago, at about the same time when the pandemic was starting. Embracing life in a better normal, Dennis embodies the hope and courage humanity needs, not just to move on but to move forward.

The exhibit’s title is also mindfully thought of, based on a Japanese magazine article which Dennis loved. He hopes that in this exhibit, people will enjoy the little artworks, in contrast to how humongous paintings tend to overwhelm or put off people. At a popular cafe such as Tully's, Dennis's artworks can be intimately enjoyed and easily relatable, exuding every little bit of happiness that just about everyone needs. To you kuya Dennis, thank you for sharing happiness all around!*