Fortune’s favors

Lizanne Uychaco opens the door to her apartment with a welcoming smile on her face. Thinking that she is the art dealer rather than the artist, I give her a perfunctory smile before looking past her to search out the artist I’m supposed to be interviewing.

"I am Lizanne," she says. I make a double take as her words sink in ("Oh, you’re Lizanne…" ), then recovering from the surprise, promptly, rather embarrassingly, introduce myself.

Dressed in a severe black blazer, a pristine white shirt and sensible shoes with a mobile phone permanently clutched to her side ("I used to work in a telecommunications company. I feel insecure without my phone.") Lizanne looks more like a corporate executive (which she is) rather than an artist whose colorful paintings are bought by collectors. As a senior vice-president for an insurance company, Lizanne reserves evenings and weekends for her art, a balance that suits her well and reflects the imagery constant in her artwork – that of the yin and yang or I-Ching coin.

"I’ve worn the coin since I was young. In fact, I wear two now," says the artist of the ornament the Chinese traditionally believe to be bearers of good luck, wealth, and prosperity. The coin is not the only aspect inspired by Chinese tradition in Lizanne’s art. Her paintings meticulously represent the five natural elements deemed relevant in the practice of feng shui: water, earth, wood, fire, and metal, though not as conspicuously as one would think. "There are several layers within my paintings, each one standing for each of the elements."

The profuse depiction of feng shui in Lizanne’s art is another thing carried over from her childhood. "When I was younger I would paint landscapes and seascapes but I grew up in an environment where there was a feng shui master – he stayed in our house quite often because the temple was very near. I learned a lot from him." When it was time to incorporate feng shui into her own apartment, Lizanne learned that a bit of paint can go a long way. "I would ask for substitutes. For example, if I painted a seascape or images of water, would that suffice? And, in feng shui terms, it would. If you need earth, you use earth colors or if you need wood, you use wood colors."

Soon, the paintings meant to create harmony within a living space were noticed and remarked upon by friends who would come over for dinner. The commissions started coming in, especially after Lizanne explained the meaningful purpose behind each artwork. And in the true mark of a real artist, one who paints for self-preservation rather than profit, Lizanne would just offer to give them her art. "It was an honor that someone wanted my paintings."

Eventually Lizanne’s reputation as an artist grew. Her profiles began appearing in books, and magazines and newspapers began doing features. The Philippine embassy even takes her paintings around to be exhibited. It is not just Lizanne’s striking colors and bold imagery that capture interest. Lizanne’s art is as much energetic as it is full of energy, in the literal Eastern sense of the word, that is. Lizanne’s premeditated use of colors and symbols are really meant to bring luck and prosperity and to enhance the chi or energy within its surroundings. And to guarantee the diffusion of this chi, Lizanne indulges in a pre-painting ritual where she cures the canvas by throwing I-Ching coins onto it ("so that the energy from the coins will transfer to the painting"). She also uses specially-made tools designed to up the luck factor: a glass palette in the shape of an I-Ching coin and Chinese porcelain brushes that feature a Chinese dragon, a character considered to be very auspicious.

"It’s all about good luck," says Lizanne. Many of those who have bought her paintings have told her that her painstaking creative efforts have indeed brought them good fortune. "Most collectors just buy one painting by an artist, but a lot have said that it is only my art that they buy a lot of…Every time their business would expand, they would buy another painting," she laughingly shares.

Lizanne’s new collection of paintings, a melange of two styles – one very modern, featuring abstract calligraphy, the other incorporating ancient Chinese art with contemporary elements – was recently launched at the Art Elements gallery in Power Plant Mall in Rockwell. This selling exhibit will be on display until November, when the remaining pieces will be brought to Hong Kong to be exhibited at the Kee Club.

The title of her new collection? As of the interview, Lizanne is still unsure. Even this is something she is meticulous about, much like a work in progress.

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Lizanne Uychaco’s works are exclusive to Art Elements, located at the 3rd level of Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati. For inquiries, call 757-6008 or e-mail artelements@surfshop.net.ph.

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