The artist travels to heaven and back through his masterpieces
An art restorer and conservator for more than two decades,
Raymond Kawataki Go often wonders if he is overpainting the vintage piece he
is trying to restore and transforming it into his own style. It is through this
pondering that his thoughts started to travel. He decided to create seemingly
whimsical pieces with a touch of modern and vintage in his “Time Machinne”, a
collection that’s part of the three-man solo show 'Diskart 3s' at Cervio Art
Haus in Pasig City.
"My creative process is experimenting with new ideas. My favorite moment in this exhibit is when I time traveled to the world of other artists, enjoying the idea and the experience,” he says talking about his coartists in the show Hessie Mondares and Francis Daniele Fajardo.
Kawataki graduated from FEU College of Fine Arts and then later
took Art History and Connosseurship under Professor Santiago Albano Pilar. His
comprehensive knowledge of the worl of old masters came from his grandfather
Paulino Go Chio, an avid collector of masterpieces from the 1820s to the 1920s.
After being inspired by his grandfather and mentor, Kawataki decided to forge his path as a painter, combining his intellect and interest in art and history into one, and even risking going beyond the styles he learned and becoming a social expressionist.
”Of all the artworks, my favorite is the smallest artwork signed by Hidalgo, my concept of overpainting the piece with my so-called Time Travel to Heaven with my mentor and connoissership teacher Santiago Albano Pilar and Irene Cometa, who supported me and my friends in promoting our art in exhibitions,” say Kawataki.
Despite being whimsical, Kawataki’s palette is dead, subdued, juxtaposed with small torches off striking colors. As you go through his well-thought-out details, you'll find the profound meaning of his pieces, the underlying symbolisms.
“Being a social expressionist is still present in my artworks but this time, I needed a
twist of overlapping paintings with my own concept and style,” he says.
His talks about the abuse of power and money in government
and politics. The painting shows how easily people can be fooled throughout
history, from the very first president of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo, to
the present.
In a phrase that must’ve come put of every hungry and struggling Filipinos mouth. But the phrase falls on deaf ears because the peole shouting are merely chess pieces for the governments, pawns in a huge machine. The only hope left for people to progress in life is by working abroad, represented by the black-faced figure with a blank face that shows how these people accept the system because they do not have much choice.
'My creative process is experimenting with new ideas'.
"I was born to be an artist. The drive has always been
there, To all aspiring artists, my advice is to go beyond your style and
explore your own creativity. One of the best parts of having an exhibit is when
I showcase my new style,” he ends.
Diskart 3s runs until June 28 at the Cevio Art Haus, Pasig City.
This article first appeared in Manila Bulletin, Lifestyle
