Grandier Bella - Visual Arts

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 08:00
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Grandier

The first time I saw his work, I thought it was a photograph, photoshoped, blown and printed in a 60 x 48 canvass… I was wrong. It was a self-portrait, oil, painted in canvass, yes, I was deceived, and it was a painting.

Grandier has shown his gift in art when he was just 4 years old. His family saw his potential and supported him all the way. At age 9, he started to spend his summers in the art workshop under the wings of Fernando Sena.  Grandier was exposed in traditional and classical painting with influences from the works of Rembrant and da Vinci exploring landscapes and figures.

Growing up, he gained the reputation of being a great artist in school, and thus, his training and passion had led him to take Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines. Grandier wanted to prove to himself and to his family that he is worthy to be an artist, that made him strive to be a scholar and eventually graduated cum laude of his class.

After graduation, Grandier pursue his other interest and medium which is computers and photography. That led him to work as a graphic artist for about 10-12 years. But I guess a painter cannot be apart from his paint brush for long. Grandier then decided to go back to painting and work on his art full time since 2005 to present.

“Since I was under Mr. Sena, I did traditional and classical painting, and it was a very good foundation for me to further explore my concept. I used to do a lot of landscapes, but I wanted to do more. What more can I contribute as a painter? There came a point in my life that I wanted to have a more mature work and be able to show my own opinions towards life.” Cited Grandier.

Thus his collaborative conceptualization, hybrid as he calls it was born. Photography, combined with proper lighting, technology in the form of photoshop and crumpled paper, serve as a basis and his reference. Only then, after all this process, will he be able to start painting. Too complex? Not really.  It’s simply his passion and creative juices all rolled into one to produce a final masterpiece.

“Only a few know that I’m also a pastel artist.” Cited Grandier, “I used to do a lot of on the spot sketching, portrait and nude sketching using pastel; On my third solo exhibit, I showed for the first time, some of my pastel works which is in connection to the concept that I am presenting which are - collages.” he added.

A lot of people say that Grandier’s works are agitating and very intense because of its colors and emotions that it reflects. Grandier seems happy with what the response of his audience,  “I want to show works that reflect bewildering things that are happening in the society. There is good and bad, but in between, there are a lot of things to think about and consider, to feel and to understand. So my works are in the middle of those things, choosing between right and wrong.” Looking at his work, you will have to take a pause and think, which side do you prefer? Which emotion is more prominent than the other? Would you choose light from darkness? Which is which?

He then added, “My works are very personal. Reflections of people that I encounter, and people that I have talked to; It also reflects my opinions about our government and about religion. It’s there, but not yet… I will be tackling them in my future works.” Something to look forward to I might say, a more intense and message driven works will later be seen in Grandier’s painting.

To date, Grandier have had 3 solo exhibits and about 30 group shows; and am confident that it will not end here, there is still much to explore, actually, he is just getting started.

 

◊ SOLO EXHIBIT

INTERVENTIONS (October 10-24, 2011) -  Galerie Anna at The Artwalk, SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

◊ GROUP EXHIBITS

WINDOWS (October 2 - November 2, 2010) - Makati Art Gallery, ground floor of ESGC Bldg, 5117 Curie St. cor. Filmore St., Palanan, Makati City, Philippines

SYNTHESIS (August 25 - September 10, 2010) - presented by Galerie Anna, SM Art Center, 4th Floor, Megamall Bldg A, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

REUNION (February 22 to March 14, 2010) - Sining Kamalig Gallery, is situated at the 4th Level of the Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.