Colors that flow
Filipino artists are coming together to celebrate the watercolor art style at the 33rd Kulay Sa Tubig Competition. The invitational art competition led by Gallery Genesis is set to present 90 watercolor masterpieces and introduce its five top Filipino watercolorists at the event happening on The Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, 2021.
Named after its basic components, the craft is done mainly by dissolving pigments in water. When applied to a canvas, the art medium creates a luminous, romantic effect after the water evaporates. Water-based painting can be traced back to the Middle Ages, according to The Met. Locally, Kulay Sa Tubig has helped in championing the art style since its establishment in 1983. Gallery Genesis founders Araceli Salas and Ernesto Salas took it as their mission to bring watercolor art’s unique and fluid beauty closer to the Filipinos.
“Truly, watercolor is a demanding medium in its own right, even for the brightest of talents,” the gallery says. “It’s often considered one of the most difficult mediums to master. Yet there is no shortage of talent in the Philippines. From hundreds of entries, Gallery Genesis carefully curates only the best to be exhibited in Kulay Sa Tubig. Naturally, what emerges are different facets of what it is to be Filipino, as seen in these myriad depictions of pastoral landscapes, urban sprawls, cultural heritage, historical narratives, and deeply human stories.”
Apart from putting the spotlight on watercolor art, the prestigious competition will also honor the heroes of our pandemic times: the medical frontliners. This year’s event will benefit the staff and workers at the UP Philippine General Hospital. Proceeds from the contest and exhibition will be used to supply them with face masks, personal protection equipment, and other essential medical items.
While the Kulay Sa Tubig exhibition will be open to the general public for viewing, Gallery Genesis ensures that safety protocols and strict social distancing guidelines will be observed.
For more information, visit Gallery Genesis’ official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.