Art Bermido presents his latest abstraction works with Quezon Province’s budding artist Zerbon Ong
Abstraction is more than just an array of colors on a canvas. It is a style that allows artists to let go of perfection. Its beauty lies in the spontaneity of the process, from the way painters apply their palette on a canvas and how the colors play together to the image they collectively create. It is an art form that has no rules. As American painter Bob Ross said, “We don't make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.”
That quote has been the guiding idea for Filipino visual artist Art Bermido as he crafts his latest exhibit of abstractions dubbed “Happy Accidents.” His collection mirrors his journey as an abstract painter through vivid paintings inspired by the people, places, and events that made him who he is today.
“Since the beginning, my paintings have revolved around the concept of stimuli. Each piece is a representation of an event, a person, or circumstances that in one way or another has touched my life,” the artist tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “The process of making them is really fun considering all of them are abstract, unintended, and all made out of serendipity.”
Art begins splattering colors on his canvas as the foundation of his art. In the process, he is able to make textures and other design elements that create images for viewers to interpret. According to him, these images developed from an imaginary concept of reoccurring visions that include figures, movements, and various emotions. They are his artistic ways of presenting how things happened not according to what is planned in life.
Although these figures were formed by chance, the artist notes that there is balance in painting and disguising them. A perfect example of this is his Anne piece, featuring a human image artfully concealed in a chaos of hues. Another is his Happy Accidents 13 with its shapes, lines, and waves of colors demonstrating his master skills in layering paint and art composition, making viewers lean more and investigate his paintings.
The exhibit also features the works of the budding artist Zerbon Ong, a.k.a Zer.O. Unike Art’s works, Zer.O’s pieces bring a sense of serenity to the showcase through images of idyllic rural landscape scenes.
“His landscapes will bring you to a placid world where you can feel the raw emotions of satisfaction as if you are drawn inside and within the four corners of his canvas,” Art says. “ I am introducing his works together with mine in this exhibit to give him a chance to showcase his works and somehow ignite his artistic endeavors.”
As an abstract painter for more than two decades now, Art sees his craft as a way of life. He has learned that painting is self-discovery. His goal is simple, to be able to understand at least a small portion of our existence.
“Rejections, failures, and frustrations are part and parcel of our lives, it is how you deal with them that defines you as a lesser or a better person,” he says. “I have learned that when you put your faith in Him, things will turn out so much better than you have ever planned.”
“Happy Accidents” is available for viewing until March 2 at the A.R.T Center located in the SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.