Silver Tears
dated 2013
oil on canvas and collage on convex mirror
60" x 96" (152 cm x 244 cm)



EXHIBITED: Blanc Gallery, Elsewhere, Quezon City, 13 September - 20 October, 2013


Filipino artist Arturo Sanchez for his innovative use of mirrors in his artworks, transforming paintings into reflective surfaces of reality. This technique is exemplified in this untitled mixed media piece. In this work, Sanchez takes the concept further by integrating the mirror as both a reflective surface and a ground for paint. Circular portraits of people, among other odds and ends, float against a backdrop of a black, catastrophic whirlwind that obliterates everything in its path. These circular portraits represent pinpoints of "hope" amidst an inevitable doom. They serve as vestiges of the living, persisting collectively as an enduring record of humanity's resilience in the face of adversity. Sanchez's work challenges viewers to contemplate the intersection of hope and despair, reflecting on the fragility of existence while celebrating the indomitable spirit of humanity. Through his art, Sanchez invites us to confront the complexities of the human condition and find solace in the enduring power of hope and humanity. (Jed Daya)