Karen Concepcion at Art Capital: ‘Abundance, prosperity & good fortune’
Twelve koi swim together in a huge, oil-medium triptych. Their movement is a symphony on a black background. There is harmony among them that evokes Zen-like serenity and contentment. Even hope and happiness.
The more one ogles them, the more one feels that the 12 carp fish seem to splash or leap out of the three-panel canvas. They come in gold, silver, orange, red, yellow, black and white — colors that describe the many journeys of life. Perhaps the same journeys taken by hyperrealist painter Karen Concepcion, who finished the 130-cm x 195-cm painting in 45 days.
“In my research, 12 koi depict abundance, prosperity and good fortune,” Karen says. She gave her artwork a simple title: Koi.
The simplicity of the title belies the reception Karen’s Koi got at the Art Capital, a notable art fair in Paris, held from Feb. 19 to 22 at the Grand Palais, a historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex in France.
“My painting, together with other works of Filipino artists, was exhibited at the Salon des Independants, which, for me as an artist, was absolutely thrilling knowing who were the artists behind its establishment,” says Karen. She credits her mother, Anne Marie Cu Unjieng, as her first art teacher responsible for introducing the concept of art impressionism to her when she was six years old. She considers Paris-based Filipino artist Stella Rojas her mentor. And her husband Ton Concepcion, president of Smeg Philippines, is “the love of my life, my inspiration.”
Ton, in a recent interview with PeopleAsia magazine, intimated that he was more excited than his wife about the appearance of Karen at the Grand Palais.
“This event is important to me because historically, the Grand Palais’ Salon des Independants, where I’m participating in, was established by famous artists like Paul Gaugin, Paul Cezanne, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Camille Pissarro with Albert Dubois-Pillet, Odilon Redon, Georges Seurat and Paul Signac.
“When I read this in my research about the Salon des Independants and knowing I would be participating in such a prestigious event, I grabbed the opportunity without hesitation. These artists, who historically established these events, are heroes in my world and education as an artist,” says Karen, who finished Fine Arts (major in Painting) at UP Diliman.
Karen’s participation at Art Capital was courtesy of Marites Agleron van Vianen, who organized the Philippine delegation of 14 artists in the prestigious Paris art fair. Marites, a Filipina who owns an art gallery in Puerto Galera, is recognized by the Art Capital organizers, according to Karen. She was also part of the group of artists who participated at the event.
Other Filipino artists who participated at the Art Capital were Myse Salonga, Day Pajarillo, Bong Canuel, Chelony Mercado-Lelieveld, Aurea Calanog, Jovelyn Medalle, James Ryan Buenacosa, Tei Leonardo, Marietherese Villa, Carmela Geisert, Marievic Beaune with the special participation of Farinaz Shakiba. These are artists based in Manila, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
On its opening night at the Grand Palais, Art Capital — which offered this year a large exhibition space to more than 2,000 French and international painters, sculptors, engravers, photographers, visual artists and architects — received 15,000 guests.
“To be able to represent our country to a prestigious event like Art Capital is truly such an honor and an experience I will always cherish,” Karen ends.
That feeling is akin to abundance, prosperity and good fortune, everything that Karen’s Koi is all about.
For your new beginnings, e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio and Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed weekend.
- Latest
