Transitions - White Walls Gallery

Exhibition

Online

White Walls Gallery exhibit moved to a later date (TBA)

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.”
― anaïs nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin

As one moves through life, we experience different states of condition in-between moments of being and transitioning. Changes come naturally, whether it was driven by initiative or not, and we experience this exploration of life in a series of flashes. In these moments of exploration, we come to an understanding of the different lives we live and the different perspectives we can grasp. Through these transitions, we may be able to come close to learning the bigger picture.

“Transitions” is an exhibit that showcases the different conditions of before, after, and during phases of transitions. de Belen intends to show the nuances of each phase as one aspires and explores in introspection. Similar to her own personal journey as an artist, each piece is a reflection of points in her own transition venturing into new and unfamiliar territory. She brings her experience of exploring new media to the table and uses this as a springboard to communicate while maintaining the light, smooth, flow and strong emotions present in all of her works.

– Wesly Sy

Words from the Artist

Transitions

the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another

5 years ago, the blandness of a routine office job tickled my curiosity to try something I’ve always wanted to do. I ran through the halls of the local bookstore and mindlessly grabbed myself the cheapest oil paints I can find. Backed with all the inspirations I saw on Pinterest, I thought painting with oil would be a walk in the park. But I was mistaken. With just a canvas and many attempts, I resorted with the idea that oil painting is not for me. I never tried it again, and switched to watercolors instead.

Watercolor has been my introduction to the art world. It taught me discipline and developed my eye and taste about art. But after having my first solo exhibition last year, I began to question myself, “what else can I still do?” Feeling some sort of a rut and stuck in my comfort zone, for the first time in 5 years, I dared to paint with oil again.

Transitions is about marrying my comfort medium with a totally different medium. Some say you can only master one, but I stubbornly begged to differ. And as I go through the process of learning, I find it funny how two very opposing mediums, a wet and dry medium, can be very much alike; different techniques, same attack. They both can be very fluid.

Transitions is also about self-exploration and diving into the unknown. Every piece of artwork is a study, a dare to challenge myself while channeling my inner emotions. And as I see the outcome of every piece I make, the more I become excited to see what I still am yet to make. Learning things by yourself would sometimes call for you to break norms, brave to challenge what is already there, and delve to walk away from a paved path. And probably you will discover what nobody else has ever done. It’s a revolution.

“There were moments when it felt familiar. Like I’m doing this for a very long time, yet I’m lost. A good kind of wandering. I guess there’s comfort in the unfamiliar.”

We always seek to move. Always seek to learn.

– Enon De Belen