Untitled (Three-Man Show) / The New Gallery / Mandaluyong City / 2019
NOTEBOOK SELFIES (2019)
Notebook Selfies, oil on paper, eight panels, each panel is 4.5 x 7.3 inches, 2019
“You are an artist with a practice” is a saying my professor would reiterate in every lecture. And for three years, it hasn’t yet settled properly in my head as I would question him, “Am I?” Now graduated, the same thought never felt so restless. So I painted my selfie, where I slowly affirm the reality of my very existence as an artist, validating my talent with every painting I post. But not too validating, here I lie still hidden comfortably against my hand or behind the frame of the picture, with varying obscurity. All these effects dependent on what I feel day to day. So I continue to post these journal-like self-portraits hoping that one day I can finally affirm myself as an artist, not concealed with all these excuses but visible in plain sight.
