An artist of the frozen world

In the art world, which is more often than not criticized for creating borders across the elitist’s cultural caste system, it’s refreshing to find exceptional work that doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is what makes Katherine Santos’ art unique. Her paintings are playful explorations that trace the creative process of an artist who has perfected “coloring outside the lines,” almost to an aesthetic science. The immediate success of Le Premiere Exposition, the artist’s first solo exhibit at the Prose Gallery (on Arnaiz Avenue in Makati), marked her formidable entrance into Manila’s art world and has given her ample room to leave as many brush strokes and paint splats on it as she pleases. Along with her persistence in questioning traditional methods and innovating in terms of form and technique, Kate’s perpetually jovial personality and self-effacing nature are what place her notches above her contemporaries. There’s no doubt in our minds that she’s going to show all the fuddy-duddies of the art world a thing or two about creative genius that doesn’t stick its nose in the air and has a wicked good time redefining art for the future.

Although Kate officially started painting professionally in 2003, she admits it’s always been a passion of hers. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do since I was in high school, but I never really pursued it in college until I transferred to London in 1999 and graduated with a minor in fine arts,” she says, “Since I enjoyed it so much, I took a Summer School Foundation course at the Slade School of Fine Art in 2000 and later on pursued postgraduate studies in art history at Goldsmiths College in 2002.”

All the works featured in “Le Premiere Exposition” showcase a technique Kate’s been experimenting with since her days as a starving art student in London. Each painting was made with chemically frozen paint and ice cubes that she let melt onto the canvas, creating the vibrant, texturized and larger-than-life abstracts hanging in the Prose Gallery. The artist actually credits her struggle to make ends meet as the muse behind her methods. With deadlines fast approaching for students at the Slade School to finish their pieces for their summer show, Kate had no other choice but to explore the unconventional.

“The source of inspiration for my work was due to my poverty-stricken days,” she says, “The money I was supposed to use for my art materials all went to my rent because I had a prospective flat mate who backed out at the last minute! I sat on a bench for a whole day trying to figure out a way to paint without having to use expensive materials… the moral of the story is being broke rocks, in the creative sense!”

Kate then ran the idea of using frozen paint by her professors, who referred her to an art specialist store. After Kate explained her idea to them, they recommended she use a mixture of a non-toxic chemical with water and paint.

“I was quite pleased with the outcome, but was only able to use it and didn’t get the chance to make further experiments until recently,” she says, “Since I started painting in Manila, I’ve been using acrylic since it’s a more flexible medium than oil, I think. The only difference from my previous work is that now I’ve separated the paint and the ice… basically, the ice works as my paintbrush now.”

The paintings featured in “Le Premiere Exposition” elegantly balance out the intellectual and the aesthetic aspects without completely bewildering or alienating the audience — an impact many abstract artists are guilty of leaving, which is why Kate’s work is winning the hearts of art connoisseurs and first-time enthusiasts alike. Her paintings are a visual playground for the mind’s eye, flaunting texture, movement and color without being ostentatious or self-important. Each piece is “bursting with fruit flavor,” in the jolly words of the artist, acting as Alice’s looking glass to a Wonderland that embraces everyone’s inner child. Kate’s paintings were given equally whimsical titles such as “Don’t Be Koi” and “Myopic Monet” to cleverly match the mood they evoke.

“I played around with names and song titles,” she says, “For example, I named ‘Faux Smith’ and ‘False Smith’ because the colors I used were very much similar to those used by the British designer Paul Smith.”

Kate’s use of ultra-modern, experimental techniques also illustrates a strong connection to her artistic influences. The artist feels a strong affinity for painters who have carefully scrutinized, completely shattered and boldly redefined the laws of traditional art throughout history.

“I admire Leonardo Da Vinci for being a Renaissance man, Caravaggio for his chiaroscuro, Piet Mondrian for his obsessive compulsive disorder, H.R. Ocampo for his colors and Nena Saguil for dedicating her entire life to her work.”

Whatever the future holds for her, it’s clear that Katherine Santos — with her thirst for the unconventional, undeniable talent and delightfully charismatic personality — is ready to go town and have a good laugh painting the art world any darn color she wants. For now, we can only wait and imagine what conventions she’ll challenge next and where in our minds the visual results will take us. As the late Dr. Seuss might put it, “Oh, the places she’ll go”!

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For more about Kate Santos’ work, visit the Prose Gallery on 832 Arnaiz Ave. cor. Paseo de Roxas, Makati City or text the artist at +63917-836-9112. Wisdom and wisecracks are always welcome at whippersnappergirl@hotmail.com.