Conrad Manila features self-taught artist Kristian Somera’s works in Of Art and Wine’s ‘Whispers from the Otherworld’ exhibition
For many artists, a blank canvas can serve as a way for them to look into their souls and release the hidden emotions that they may have trouble expressing. Each brush stroke works like a shovel that digs deep into their psyche and exposes who they truly are to the world.
As a person who is quite in tune with his emotions, self-taught artist Kristian Somera naturally gravitated to crafting gorgeous paintings that are brought to life by the musings of his heart. The artist revealed to Manila Standard Life that while it would mean that he makes his art sporadically, he only picks up his brush whenever he feels inspired enough to create a piece.
“Every time I feel whatever [it is that] possesses you as an artist, whenever that entity possesses me, then I work,” he shared.
However, Somera also revealed that he only stumbled upon his talent in painting accidentally because of a client for his interior design business who wanted an abstract piece for their project. Since he didn’t have enough budget to purchase an artwork from a gallery, he created one of his own.
To his surprise, his client loved what he made and asked for four more pieces from him. Eventually, he started posting his creations online which reached many people, establishing his emerging presence in the art scene. While he admitted to feeling insecure about it because of other artists in the field who have more experience than him, Somera expressed how much he loved creating his artworks nonetheless.
“Art is something that [makes me] feel at home when I do it. It’s the purest kind of joy that I feel,” he shared, adding how creating art had helped him psychologically as he had been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Somera explained that after he began to make artwork, he felt as if he found an outlet for his feelings. He asked his psychiatrist if he could stop taking his medicine and was put under observation. In the last six months, he revealed that he hasn’t had a single episode of a panic attack.
“It’s really life-changing,” the artist said.
Somera continues to make it a point to use his art to express his innermost thoughts and feelings as raw and pure as he can. He exemplifies this in his first solo exhibit in the 31st edition of Conrad’s Of Art and Wine series titled “Whispers from the Otherworld.” Featuring several abstract works made during a month-long trip to Bali, Indonesia, Somera’s exhibition explores the introspection that comes with wondering about the meaning of one’s existence.
During the opening of his exhibit last Aug. 6, he revealed that he had been suffering from what he claimed to be the worst existential crisis that he ever experienced in his life last year, which led him to take a trip to Bali.
While he did everything he could to possibly lead him to what he was looking for such as meditating and reconnecting with nature, what changed everything for him was his participation in an ancient shamanic ritual held in a remote island in Indonesia.
“I was on a beach. I was basking in the beauty of nature. I was feeling the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the water of the ocean and then suddenly, it was like a shift. All of a sudden, I stopped having questions and all of the answers just kind of came to me,” said Somera.
The artist further shared that the epiphany he had led to a change in his mindset as well as how he came to understand the world and his life, which he wanted to share through his art.
“I wanted to capture that experience and translate it into my practice,” said Somera.
Speaking on how he chose Somera for the 31st edition of Of Art and Wine, exhibit curator Nestor Jardin shared how he always takes into account the quality of an artist’s pieces.
“[There’s] certain standards based on their style. I could see the technique and the subject matter,” said Jardin.
The curator added that Somera’s works felt as if they came from within and that he was not the type of artist who only paints with an idea in mind.
“[With] Kristian, I feel his artworks come from within. I think it helps because he’s such an emotional person which makes him introspect a lot,” said Jardin.
Somera’s Whispers from the Otherworld exhibition runs until Oct. 19 at Conrad Manila’s Gallery C. For inquiries about how to avail any of Somera’s artworks put on display, visit www.conradmanila.com or call +63288339999.
