There's a new emerging artist in town who's taking the local art scene by storm with his bold and evocative works. Meet Gelo Zarsuelo, a 22-year-old queer visual artist hailing from Aklan, Philippines. His art style is a unique blend of portraiture and intimacy that explores the politics of individual bodies, non-binary relationships, and the complexities of the queer experience.
"The inspiration for my art comes in different forms," he said." Since being queer is a lived experience different from one another, I want my art to become a vessel of these experiences. The struggle, the journey and the triumph. I consume narratives from media, photos, films and songs. Sometimes, I'm motivated from past queer history to my friends' stories of their own present lives. Using these point-of-views allow me to create pieces that evoke or suggest emotions and ideals to the audience. And for me, that is my duty as a queer artist in the Philippines."
Gelo's works are a tribute to the lived experiences of the queer community, where emotions are raw, intense, and nuanced. Using acrylic paint on canvas, he merges bold and muted colors to highlight the intensity of repressed emotions and convey the narratives of struggle behind seemingly subtle postures and expressions.
Journey of self-discovery
For Gelo, being an artist is a journey of self-discovery, self-expression, and social responsibility. He draws inspiration from various forms of media, from photos, films, and songs to the stories of his friends and past queer history. Through his art, he hopes to convey the emotions and ideals of the queer community to a broader audience.
Gelo's style is a perfect balance of rawness and beauty. He intentionally chooses muted colors to display yearning and loneliness while using bold colors to symbolize passion, strength, and resilience. The harmony of these color palettes conveys the extremes of being queer and the phases that one goes through.
"My art heavily revolves around portraiture and themes of intimacy," He said. "In my works, I intentionally choose muted colors to display yearning and loneliness. And in contrast, I use bold colors to symbolize passion, strength and resilience. The harmony of these color palettes allow me to fully convey the similar extreme ends of being queer and the phases that we had to go through. "
Aside from being a full-time visual artist, Gelo is also involved in local organizationns and volunteer work. When he's not painting, he enjoys watching series and movies, trying out iced coffees from different places, and attending exhibit openings.
You can see more of Gelo's works on his Instagram (@gelozarsuelo) and Facebook (Gelo Zrsl). With his unique style and a compelling message, Gelo Zarsuelo is an artist to watch out for in the years to come.
Comments
Post a Comment