Valen Valero

 

 

Artwork, Encoded 

The Evolution of Valero

September 26, 2016

Text by Hannah Jo Uy

There is a delightfully mysterious twist that can be found in the art of Valen Valero. Within the visually arresting abstractions showcased in her oeuvre, she has stealthily hidden codes and messages. Camouflaged between the organized chaos of her geometric lines and silhouettes set off by her clever manipulation of muted colors, these cryptographs are composed of letters and numbers. Representative of her refreshing optimism, they exist to connect Valero to the viewers as she bares her soul and shares her journey. 

Her abstractions owe its dynamic quality to her contagious positivity, which she materialized by putting in verses and inspirational quotes. Carefully concealed from all except those with knowing eyes, these codes are an inspired addition to what already stands as an alluring visual piece. It adds a unique dimension to her artwork, as it serves to represent her underlying philosophical approach in life, as well as injecting form in what can otherwise be considered arbitrary figures; as a metaphor for meaning arising out of chaos. 

“My work is basically a reflection of thoughts, travels, and belief,” says Valero. “A product of the flow of time, experiences, and encounters. It is a personal map that links, present, past, and future destination.”

A native of San Fernando, La Union, Valero’s inclination for art revealed itself at the young age of seven, when she would consume the art materials her mother would bring home. Though she went on to study Food Technology, her passion eventually led her to continue her artistic development. She read books voraciously and immersed herself in beautiful sights and images throughout her travels which further added to her visual repertoire. 

Initially, she was drawn to the spontaneous and naïve style of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Vincent Van Gogh. As the fore runners of Cubism and Fauvism, their aesthetics greatly influenced her own artistic development, which is emphasized by her expressive use of color, evident throughout her evolution as an artist. But most importantly, it was their lives and a deep appreciation of their persistence that drove her to pave the way for her own artistic career. 

In 2001, Valero had her debut solo exhibition at Art Circle Gallery showcasing 50 Impressionist paintings, which were well-received by the public and proved to be successful, even being sold-out. This further prompted her to move away from her professional career as a businesswoman and explore her creativity by taking up fine arts courses at the Art Students League of New York in 2012. She has since had a number of solo and group exhibitions in the Philippines and abroad. 

“My maturity and challenges in life was a big factor that helped me to express my emotions and feeling through my paintings. For the past 16 years, I tried different mediums and styles. From freestyle drawing to pen and ink, acrylic, mixed media art, and now I am also into sculptures. To evolve, one needs to get lost to find his/her way.”

Being a full time artist for the past six years, Valero has worked resiliently and wholeheartedly on her craft and her progress is strongly reflected in her steady move towards more non-representational art. Every stage divulged a new aspect of Valero’s growth as a person and as an artist, showcasing and challenging a new set of aesthetic skills. As a result, her portfolio is a colorful cacophony of different styles and mediums cohabitating: “Every time I have a show, I need to add up new elements so others have something to look forward to. I believe that change is important. It means you are evolving as an artist. You have to explore new things, spice it all up and make new series.”

It was in 2006 that Valero shifted with certainty towards abstraction, finding that it best reflected her momentary mindfulness and moods, which she transferred through an evocative use of color. It became the vehicle for her to chronicle her advancement. It is for this reason that she was fascinated with the concept of development, destination, and direction. She has been unabashed with sharing all aspect of herself and her creative formation. Her early pieces, when she began to dabble into mixed media works, prominently feature elements of steel. These are in homage to her early childhood, and her family who work in the steel industry. Seeing the discarded steel parts, she began to incorporate them in her works in a display of spontaneity.

“Abstract is abstract—it has no boundaries,” she shares, “You are free to do whatever you want with no hesitation. Express your anger, your feelings, and your thoughts. Elements appear and disappear. Depends on how wild your imagination is. I find it more interesting because it makes you think and wonder.” 

In addition, Valen notes that she has always made a conscious effort to expose herself, “I am open to suggestions and opinions of others because it’s good to be open minded. Constructive criticism is normal, its part of your growth as an artist. At the end of the day it’s your own style that matters and it’s still your own creation anyway.”

In her latest exhibit, entitled, “Impulse,” at the Artologist Art Gallery, she showcases 12 mixed media works. Serving as a continuation of her big bang series, exhibited last March, this latest collection is bolder and more cathartic as the artist was straightforward and conscientious with regards to pouring out her emotions on the canvas. One piece, “Reflection,” features metal stainless sheets, bolts, irregularly shaped canvases, and her usual encoded writings. In its own way, it serves as the culmination of the many stages Valen had gone through to get to this point in her artistic career. 

As a whole, the collection speaks of Valero’s positivity and optimism which is fortified by her faith. In her creative attempt to express her gratitude and honest depiction of her own journey, she reinforces and celebrates the importance of respecting and enjoying the process, as opposed to being consumed with the destination. 

“IMPULSE” will be on display until Oct. 4, at the Artologist Gallery 81 Xavier residences unit 203, Greenhills, San Juan. www.theartologist.net