Gabby Prado
Painting colour with sound
“I have so many influencers to look up to—Helen Frankenthaler, France-Lise McGurn, Yves Klein and Caroline Denervaud are a few of my favourite artists. Of course, some of the famous artists of abstract expressionism, Wassily Kandinsky and Vincent Van Gogh.
I am influenced by everything I experience with synesthesia—dance and food. Sometimes I get inspired from books, films, youtube videos, fashion, architecture, poetry, my grandma’s stories, walking and documentaries.”
Gabby Prado is a visual artist who narrates her aesthetic journey in a series of paintings derived from her experiences. After years of training in dance, Prado envisioned a way to transform movement into large scale art.
She graduated from the University of the Philippines, College of Fine Arts, Major in painting. Her abstract paintings rely on bodily movements and expressions to translate personal memories into art, advocating for a better understanding, inspiration, and information of our personal sensory narratives.
Just like other master artists who painted with sound, Gabby has chromesthesia; a type of synesthesia also known as ‘sound-to-colour synesthesia’ where sound involuntarily evokes an experience of colour, shape, and movement. Individuals with sound-color synesthesia are consciously aware of their synesthetic color associations/perceptions in daily life.
“I am not fond of making a study because it never works for me. I tried several times even the study was really perfect and then when I tried to translate from small paper to a large scale canvas. Meh. It didn’t turn out well. But it’s a good thing for practicing.
The actual beginning usually involves prepping so that I feel and tone of the ground. But during the pandemic, I decided to buy canvas from a local artist so that I can refrain from going out to buy supplies for canvas. I normally work on a large scale because I find it very comfortable to use my body to move a lot and control a lot of tools and canvas. I laid the canvas on the table or floor so that I can leave the paint on the spot but it can spread a little. I tend to work on 3-5 paintings at the same time to save my energy.”
In 2020, the artist joined one of MOMA’s education programs to enhance her knowledge and understanding in contemporary art. She is represented by Galerie Stephanie which is one of the leading artist-centered galleries in the Philippines.
Gabby had several solo exhibits in the Philippines, and group exhibitions in Singapore and Indonesia. She recently had her 4th solo exhibition a few months ago entitled, “Lexikon” at the contemporary art space, Modeka and group shows at the beginning of the year called“Sapience”, at Modeka and the International Contemporary Art Fest, at Galerie Stephanie, early this year.
The artist is currently preparing for a few shows this year:
Art Fair PH (ongoing & online)- May 6-15, 2021
White Walls Gallery (group show) -July 29, 2021
Galerie Stephanie (two man show) -July 2021
Galerie Stephanie (solo show)- September 2021
To know more about the artist, please visit/contact:
Gabby Prado
email: gabbycprado@gmail.com
instagram: @gabbycprado
Galerie Stephanie
email: inquiry.galeriestephanie@gmail.com
website: galeriestephanie.com