When all seems lost, we turn our minds to the welcoming serenity of nature to tune things out and be at peace again. Imagine yourself deep in the forest and listen as the cool breeze of the wind lets the trees rustle their leaves. Hear the gentle flow of the river as its waters flow down the hill and give life to all that drink from it. Watch as the birds fly and the various fauna roam about freely as they explore their green surroundings. Though this gentle experience is far removed from the busy streets of the city, it is perfectly captured in the collaborative work of Solenn Heussaff-Bolzico and Olivia d’Aboville in Vīta.

Solenn and Olivia have been friends since childhood. Each has shown a passion for the arts with Solenn working with a brush whereas Olivia uses textiles for her work. Taking a look into their individual works on display, Solenn’s paintings evoke a sense of calmness and tranquility from the vivid colors she uses to bring life to the plants in her paintings. In other works, she includes humans in the middle of it all, painting a relaxing image of being one with nature. Then, when one takes a look into Olivia’s abstract works, we are drawn into the fine details of how the piece comes together. Every little piece is woven into place, giving it a precise look that shows how much patience and resilience go into such a craft. By combining these elements together in their work, we find harmony in Solenn’s wild choice of colors and Olivia’s carefully woven textiles. 

Vīta went on display from December to early January at the Provenance Gallery of Modern Art at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig. It was curated by Stephanie Frondoso.