#artworkph

If yall don't mind a Stevonnie 💖 I've always wanted to paint them aaaa just a comeback-artwork while waiting for somethin 😊 🌟🌌 - -

(Our Stories Now)

Pre and post Exhibit thoughts

I’ve always envisioned an opportunity like that moment when Ms. Gina sent me an invitation to become a part of a show. She asked me if I was ready to debut my art, to share it to a wider audience. I took a deep breath and told myself, this is it. It’s right about time. I conditioned my mind, my body and my spirit to give my all to this project since it’s my first time to be seen and it was not easy. I’m proud to have produced these 3 artworks that are reflective of major plot twists in my life. Everything was a learning curve for me, it was a crash course for anything that I need to know when it comes to producing an artwork and what happens after that coz’ it doesn’t just end up there. Your artwork needs to not only be seen but it also needs to be heard.

In awe and inspired by these ladies ( Nang kar, Nang Mox, Rinx, Kat, Megumang, Ms. Angela, Ms. Jing) that I look up to since my younger days (and still up to now). You all have given me that excitement, that burning passion about creating, telling stories, and believing in ideas that needed life. And I’m honored to have my name in a poster with yours. Thank you for giving off that energy of openness and willingness to share your experience, opinions and knowledge about art which I’m still on my way to discover and learn.

We are not just talented women, but we are all empowered in every way.

How I started making art was out of boredom and doodling was my way of killing time. I was creating spontaneously with sharpie pens and coloring shapes and images randomly with whatever available color there was. Fast forward to years of experimenting and still not making studies I was invited by Ms. Gina to an all women group show titled “Not Another Mother and Child” (© 2019). On that show, every step of the process was guided by her. I was drawn anew to this treatment but I have to admit that I needed fresh eyes and someone to critic my art’s direction. It’s just then that I decided to be a fulltime artist.

Launching my share on how the pandemic has defined my role and identity as a Negrense woman in “Ang Storya Namon Subong” was a journey that I truly take to heart. Every video call I had with our curator, (Ms. Gina Jocson) wasn’t just about reporting the progress in my works but it was also like a reflection of what has been, a deep dive to my most inner self. It was an extraction of emotions. Im more than grateful to have gathered insights and supervision from her. And I look forward to apply them in my practice.

The significance of every detail is a component to the message that you want to tell, I hoped I was able to communicate my story in this platform. And as I recall what my mentor the late Director Peque Gallaga always reminds us in theater that applies to art and life: "There is no small or big role, all roles matter”.

~

Elwah Gonzales

~

Our virtual gallery can still be viewed on this website up until June 15, 2021

We are also featured in this year's Art Fair Philippines under the 10 days of art