the future of one’s nation. The mixture of surprise and amazement depicted in the face of the child shows his admiration toward these national heroes. With the hope of having the children lead the change in the nation, Salon uses the child as a representation of young people who can rise to their potential and make a difference. The vision set out by Salon in this piece is a world where the youth will be recognized and welcomed as leaders of change. Another artist who also believes in the overflowing potential of children is Rommel Ramota. In his work titled Centerpiece 2, he portrays a child as someone who earnestly yearns for infinite possibilities. The child, drawing from his imagination, shows his actual desire. More than toys or the newest technologies, what the child wants is peace—a peaceful home and a peaceful world. Ramota depicts children as actors who shall draw peace in the homes of every family, and eventually, cause a resurfacing of a society that will manifest the very calmness that his subject conveys. Another artwork that can surely capture one’s attention is Nelson Ricahuerta’s Lihim (secret), which was brought to life through oil on canvas. The technique of applying oil gave the piece a more expressive and dramatic effect. It mirrors a more melancholic approach to looking at the past. While Ricahuerta uses such a distinct background, his subject displays a hint of resiliency: a face of a woman telling the viewers that she has survived the toughest times and has come back stronger than before. People hit rock bottom, but what makes them
strong is the fact that they do not stay there. They claw their way up and out onto the surface and put themselves in a position of saliency. Facing life’s hardships and difficulties with boldness requires courage, and Ricahuerta’s subject shows the face of a woman who never gave up. Edwin Ladrillo based his artwork Renacido on the duality of endurance and surrender. Renacido is a Spanish word meaning “reborn.” The subject in this painting represents man and his forbearance. With the desire to change, the man constrains his worst impulses in order to allow thoughtful and wiser aspects of himself to govern what he says and does. Fragility can be seen in the subject as the man struggles to become a better version of himself. In the process of gradually finding himself, he must let go of some of the things that hold him back from moving forward. Another artwork by Ladrillo is titled Hold On. This piece gives a more decisive portrayal of reorientation. While in the first piece by Ladrillo, the subject struggles to change himself, this piece portrays a woman ready to move past her previous direction in life, both physically and spiritually. Looking back at her past which made her who she is now, the subject holds on to these memories to prepare for the next chapter in her life that she will embark on. The exhibit tells viewers that change can occur and be dealt with in many different ways. People usually think that change occurs when one moves to another place or when one loses someone very close to him or her, while some have come to the awareness that change can be the deepest of all things. It is true that it is a challenge to change, but the exhibit showed that change does not have to occur over a climactic incident. It is a process that can even begin overnight, when one’s mind winds up and one decides that it is time to do something different. F @abtheflame | abtheflame.net
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