Her first solo exhibition was in 2019. That early,her fascination with empowered women spoke through her symbolic “Maria Claras” expressed as modern Filipinas. Through the years, this theme almost always found expression in many of her art works. Somehow evolving, but the message remains and its meaning more clearly professed and manifested. Added in are the iconic abanicos (fans) and the kalachuchi flowers.
A few taking residence in her temporary art studio. In Her Studio
Mona Clara. I remember this as the title of her first painting of a Modern Filipina. Mysterious just like Mona Lisa. “Confused” just like Maria Clara. Maria Clara in today’s language has come to mean either the country’s costume, or describe the traditional, shy, demure, noble and virginal Filipina. It is also one of the main characters in the book “Noli Me Tangere” where she is said to symbolise the state and sad plight of the motherland, our Philippines.
In this artist’s mind, her character MONA CLARA combines the qualities of mystery, tradition, confusion and some traces of humor. Perhaps one can even detect a subversive element. Through the years, the series depicted the Modern Filipina in today’s culture in a very satirical way. The approach and treatment leave the viewer to draw his/her own interpretation. Without question, the artist wittingly invites the viewer to discern a serious message.
LEÓN GALLERYWork In Progress
This 6th solo exhibitionis titled “Redefinition”, which explores, celebrates and challenges what it means to be a Modern Filipina. Using the Filipino terno as a visual device, it is a challenge to the standards set by Maria Clara — by Filipinas themselves, through the brushstrokes of Filipina artist Anna Bautista.
Emblematic of the history of Maria Clara, the Philippine terno has long stood for tradition. These were what a woman was to wear but more than that, what a Filipino woman had to be. It is a living time capsule of the culture,art, fashion, government systems, politics and societal norms that thrived in old Philippine society. Anna believes the Philippine Terno has evolved alongside Filipinas — partly in how it looks, but mainly in what it stands for.
This April 11, 2019 is Anna Patricia Bautista’s first solo exhibit. Showcasing eleven of her paintings, the exhibit will run till April 27 at J Studio in La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo) in Makati City. The overriding theme of her exhibit is “Art and Consumerism” — so relevant in this time and age of rising consumerism where society’s obsession with material possessions threatens to define what we are. In this young artist’s mind, this mentality is leaning towards a subconscious layering of society that trivialises a person’s true worth and substance. Bordering on satire, Anna’s wit cuts across her art, like broad strokes on canvas.
The Invitation. CONSUMED. Solo Exhibition of Anna Bautista. 2019
Influencer. By Anna Bautista. 2019
McBoodle. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Young, petite and profound. “Anna Bauti” juggles her time between art and school. Her passion for art developed only after she quit from her school’s swimming team. Finding much time otherwise spent doing pool laps, her doodles graduated into portraits and shirt designs. After representing her school in athletic meets, she was soon representing the same school in art competitions. By 16, she found art as her self-expression. A voracious reader, she delighted in expressing her new learnings and experiences through her art. She painted on paper, ceramic, canvas, wood, fabric, and leather using pen and ink, acrylic, oil, gouache and watercolour. She never stopped painting since. By 17, she was painting on walls. At that young age, she gave up weekend parties to work on her murals.
Cariñosa by Anna Bautista. 2019
Manong Andy. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Comme De Garcia. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Early on, she painted animals — dogs, cats, horses. Then she tried portraits.Or just “at the moment” paintings like when she painted a crowd scene inside the Louvre in Paris, a monument in Ciutadella Parc in Barcelona, sketched that famous spider in Bilbao and the seascape of San Sebastián-Donostia. She’d linger as long as 4 hours in an art gallery or museum, walk many blocks searching for street art, and spend lots of time reading art books or browsing in bookstores. Whatever she earned from her art projects, she spent on more art materials and books. She paints for hours till midnight and when she needs to rest her mind, she paints something that is completely unrelated to what she’s working on, as if to “rest her mind”. Call it a “break” if you like. As in mindless painting to rest from some serious painting? Perhaps.Except that those breaks are pretty good artworks too.
Karla. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Maldita. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Luisa V. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Looking at her recent artworks for this solo exhibit, she badly needs her own studio now. The entire house cannot accept visitors anymore whenever she’s in “session”. Her art is all over, so to speak. But it’s the kind of chaos and mess that delights and soothes the soul. Anna never had any formal art lessons. Through the years, her art has evolved and continues to evolve. She isn’t sure what to call her painting style. She wouldn’t even call it a technique – those “blotches” that seem to compose a surprising “whole” when viewed from a distance. Her work invites us to fill in the blanks or to dare make an interpretation while her art attempts to be playful behind a serious message. She is more partial to modern, contemporary artists, curious about their techniques and impressed with their art innovations and representations. Who knows where this passion would lead this young lady? Once I asked her what inspires her to paint. Anna nonchalantly said her mood to paint is prompted by a desire to share something she just experienced, discovered or learned. While others would talk about it, this young miss would rather paint about it. 👩🎨
Chi Gou. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Flag. By Anna Bautista. 2019
Making Limos. By Anna Bautista. 2019
PS. Many thanks to Derek, Lucky, brothers Ralph & Randell, to her Teachers Ayong and Asid, to her many friends who gamely posed for her, and to everyone else who believed in her. Special thanks to those who encouraged her by buying her artworks long before she knew she could make a career out of this passion. 🥰
My name is Anna Bautista. Call me Anna Bauti.
Update: Here’s a couple of articles about the artist and her April 11 solo exhibit.
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