PASSAGE by Bryan espiritu
“Passage” delves deep into the intricate channels between the rational adult mind and the inner child, exploring how each endeavours to process, rationalize, and recollect experiences of trauma, pain, and isolation. The exhibition serves as a powerful expression of the way we navigate the labyrinth of past and present memories in our quest to construct abridge toward healing and wholeness. The masterful use of language as a critical vehicle and motif is at the heart of this captivating exhibit. Reflected in “Paper beats scissors” Bryan Espiritu has crafted original short poetry that forms a poignant dialogue between the adult and child selves, illustrating how they grapple with their respective experiences of pain. This poetic exploration subtly conveys a theme of repetition, underlining our unyielding commitment to memory while evoking the internal voices that are sown into our minds during periods of abuse, exclusion, or profound suffering. These poems and passages are presented in ways that intentionally blur clarity, exude a childlike desperation, and boldly confront the matter-of-fact. In doing so, they evoke the essence of children’s storybooks, effectively bouncing mature experiences against a visual library of the artist’s own memories from the past.
Conceptually, “Passage” is a masterful evolution of the artist’s lifelong quest for peace and reconciliation with his dark histories. It serves as a vehicle for him to navigate the tumultuous waters of his youth, using rationale to exorcise the ghosts of his traumatic experiences. This desire for reconciliation is rooted in a deeply troubling relationship with his father, which catalyzed a lifetime of trauma from a very young age and ultimately kindled Bryan’s passion for poetry to further understand his reality.
Among the most striking features of this exhibition is the prominent use of charcoal powder in many works. Charcoal takes on the role of a ritualistic peace offering and a heartfelt tribute to his late father. The artist’s father, whose cremation was initiated as an act of vengeance, is hauntingly featured in the painting titled “I just need 2 cups of rice now.” The medium of charcoal powder not only adds a rich texture and visual depth to the artworks but also serves as a conduit to the artist’s past, achieved through finger painting and the portrayal of blurred images that seamlessly merge into dreamlike states.
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Almost Full (Study)
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Almost Empty (Study)
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The Worst (Study)
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The Lonely (Study)
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The Light (Study)
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Soup Kitchen (Study)
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Johnny & Jane (Study)
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It's all the rage (Study)
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Enough (Study)
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