SHOOTING STARS | Trek Valdizno
Galleria Duemila | Manila
Trek Valdizno’s Shooting Stars explores the inner and outer worlds. The fabric of spirituality seeps through as his works call to mind his fascination with the unknown.
The affinity with the shooting stars or scientifically called meteors or meteorites may be attributed to his own inward journey. At the outset, the artist recognizes that there is something greater than oneself that is divine or cosmic in nature. It is a connection forged within himself and his outer world.
The artist’s fascination with cosmology and geology led him to collect tektites, particularly those from the Czech Republic called moldavites. Tektites are small, rock-like objects of Earthen material that have been melted by meteorite impact and ended up on Earth. Their name comes from the Greek word 'tektos', meaning 'molten'. A couple of years ago, the artist made an installation utilizing a tektite and a curved metal bar against an all-black wooden panel. This is his first foray into utilizing the image of the elusive shooting stars. This work allowed him to simulate the image of a meteorite and investigate its physical dimensions. Now, he has incorporated the concept in the form of painting.
For the artist, the process of painting is a spiritual catalyst; one that allows him to be in a state of rising above his earthly self. For him, it is a form of meditation having to repaint one element over and over. He starts out by painting the background. He, then, senses and feels. He blends colours and techniques through intuition. His painting gestures follow the behavioural pattern of a shooting star. It is a unique, guided practice.
In an angle, the paintings look like an interweb of strings, pulling and connecting each other. It formulates a certain sense of bond. In its most obvious state, the paintings are representations of heavenly bodies. The circular shapes created are like looking into a dimension. These form a depth through positive and negative spaces. The resulting piece, although flat, conveys a three-dimensional, boundless form moving towards infinity.
Trek’s process may be called automatic painting in which inspiration is tapped from a tranced state. Automatism refers to digging deep into the unconscious mind and movement without conscious pondering. Later automatism played some part in abstract expressionism.
In a sense, automatic painting is creating harmonious art. That with which the mind and the body agree in one thought. Contrary to the random gestures, the resulting works are purposeful and directed. Flashes of insight and vision from a higher being have made their way to the artist’s canvas. Thus, the works are a reflection of the artist’s illuminated inner world.
The paintings are doused in flat and shimmering acrylics portraying the different colors of the stars when subjected to different conditions in their realm. The pervading images are spirals, full, and semi-circles. In cosmological underpinnings, circles are a perfect shape. It represents totality and wholeness.
Divine Message is a 5x5 ft. work in colours reminiscent of the sun. It is a commanding and regal work only fitting the only star in our solar system. Interstellar captivates the viewer in a pastel orange hue. Fireballs is a bright red and yellow composition, seemingly ablaze. Intergalactic Bliss is a symmetrical psychedelic form in a mix of overlapping colours. Star of Bethlehem and Supernova envelop the work with cascading circular motions in extended gestures. Meteor Showers, Beacon of Hope and Celestial Fireworks resemble a meteor shower in all its glory. Moon Child is composed of lighter hues of blue and white, breaking through the black expanse of the universe.
Trek’s works are a pure representation of the artist’s endless inspiration for the wonder of the celestial bodies. In these works, a connection to the universe comes to light. For the artist, a shift happens. Revelations dawn. It is the recognition of a rooted individuality and power.
The realization that we are one with the universe is in itself a transformation. It allows us to see our own version of the sacred. The spiritual weave in the works of Trek reminds us that we are uniquely formed yet we are thoroughly guided. We are grounded in ourselves yet remain integral to our outer world. Just as Indian Philosopher Osho has phrased it, the whole universe is our being and stars in different colours just give a beautiful variety to existence.
-Johanna Labitoria
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