Rafaelle Louise’s paintings for “The Way of Zen” express a more meditative visual language compared to her previous works. The artist’s inspiration sprouted during the onset of the pandemic and the lockdown– when she was able to use the downtime to delve deeper into her own psyche, reflect on her past, and realize the right direction she needed to take moving forward. Amidst finding such ways, Rafaelle Louise became interested in the teachings of Zen, and ultimately in how she can manifest these teachings in her art.
This is when the artist came across the many forms of Zen art, and took specific interest in the practice of HitsuzendÅ — or “The Way of Zen through the brush,” and the discipline of drawing EnsÅ which is a hand-drawn circle in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes, expressing a moment when the mind is free to let the body create.
In creating her Zen works, she challenged herself to confine to a set of rules– same as using only a compass and a ruler to create intricate patterns, allowing chance to happen even in a controlled situation. Rafaelle Louise considers the exhibition to be humbling experience, as what she deemed as restrictions actually paved way to innovations. She learned that if one does not confine to a set of rules, one cannot make valuable judgements about the direction of the work. In a way, Rafaelle Louise connected this experience to how she is coping with the restrictions of the pandemic which allowed her to take a step back, contemplate on life, and think of new ways to move forward.
Rafaelle Louise (b.1990) studied Visual Communication at the College of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Rafaelle describes her oeuvre as “modern interplay between action painting and minimalism, where the end product stands somewhere between painting and sculpture”.
“Way of Zen” by Rafaelle Louise will run from July 28 to August 8, 2021 at Galerie Joaquin, Level 3 The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
