Dresses have a variety of explicit and implicit meanings. It can describe a structure of social life, ideology, history, class, community, and identity. As a visual artist, Astrid Castillo is interested in how women adorn themselves for certain purposes and the transformative experiences they are allowed by this process.
The works for “Promenade” explore matters of clothing as a cultural and social identity which is understood to be symbolic of a person’s identity. They aim to respond to issues relating to the female body such as identity construction, societal roles, and the dynamics of social power.
The paintings, rendered with a dark background, directly and purposefully reclaim the female psyche’s powerful source. The creases from the dresses symbolize the social pressures on women: to be pure and chaste, beautiful and well-mannered, and caring and self-sacrificial. Women are clad in these costumes, conveying how they should be despite of how they want to be.
Each work celebrates beauty — the decorative and the effeminate — as a direct act of rebellion against systems that define power within conventional society. Astrid Castillo invites the audience to question social norms while providing a pathway to connect with a deeper source within.
Astrid Castillo (b.1990) started painting at the age of 13. Influenced by her father and well-known Miniature Artist in the Philippines, the late Norris Castillo, Astrid started her art practice by painting landscapes, still-life and florals.
Astrid Castillo finished her Fine Arts — Major in Painting degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 2010, graduating with the “Best Thesis of the Year” Award. Her art influences include Shana Levenson and Serge Marshennikov. Castillo has participated in group shows both locally and abroad.
“Promenade” by Astrid Castillo runs until June 20, 2021 at Galerie Joaquin, Level 3 The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
