“Les Nymphéas”, a French word which literally translates to “The WaterLilies”, artist Richard Buxani took a different turn and veered away from familiar themes of warriors and mythical folklore to a much more composed and placid subject of water lilies. Drawing inspiration from the time he spent at The Metropolitan Museum in New York where he personally stood before Claude Monet’s water lilies series, Buxani then embarks on an introspective journey to finding a new creative gusto.
His process involves welding copper and brass through the use of silver sticks, enjoining each leaf to create what seems like a raft of waterlilies. His sculptures are intended to be mounted in various ways, as a table or floor top or as a wall mount fixture. This intention can be traced back to his architectural background and his eagerness in finding ways on how to fill up an empty space. Turning his works into something functional, something purposeful. In a way, Buxani is not just an artist, but also a curator; carefully putting into consideration how his artworks would be displayed.
Buxani’s water lilies are stark reminders of how one’s curiosity towards exploring new things ripple against the stillness of the human psyche. Claude Monet’s “Les Nymphéas (The Water Lilies) is a stark iteration of this; that as the light seem to seep away from his pond of lilies, a conglomeration of colors reverberates in the canvas; pulsating life, echoing a subtle reminder that there is more than what it seems.
Richard Buxani was born in the early 70’s from a mixed marriage, the youngest in a brood of three. Buxani studied Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas, College of Architecture and Fine Arts. His works to a certain degree, show absolute control of fire, but with a certain rawness and viciousness.
Movement plays a significant role in his portrayals, and are evident in most of his works.
“To be able to do present ideas, implement it, and see it come to fruition is one of the pure delights of being an artist. You can never get over that feeling, especially when you experience the look in the eyes of the viewer when the show is being presented”, says the artist.
“Les Nymphéas”, by Richard Buxani, will be on view from November 10 to 20, 20223. Galerie Joaquin Podium is located on 3rd level, the Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
