A Heart for Art

The first ever piece of art I got was a shirt with a print by Lala Gallardo, one of my favorite local artists. I bought it at Rockwell's Independent Lifestyles section at Analog Soul, a store that sells various graphic designed merchandise. It was a good deal, considering my student budget. For P600, I got to buy art that I both liked and could wear.

First of all, let me just say that the shirt may not be my first, first ever piece of art because I may have other things in my possession that can be considered as art. However, this was the first thing that I got with the conscious intent of buying art. Initially, I had my eye on a ceramic tile being sold at another store with the artist's design, but as with many art pieces, it was way over my budget. When I found out that the artist was doing a collaboration with Analog Soul to design some merchandise, I immediately set a date to visit the store to get one of her things. I settled for the shirt because, as I said, it served a double purpose for me.

Second of all, I cannot tell you how Lala Gallardo became one of my favorite artists, or what attracted me to her art. I simply cannot explain it! I don't know what she wants to put through her art, nor does her art have any particular meaning for me. It's just that, when I look at her art, I get this feeling. What feeling, you may ask? I myself don't know. But when I read the article "Art Smarts" by Gino de la Paz in the latest issue of Real Living magazine, I found my answer. It said:

"Go with your gut. An intuitive reaction to artwork is crucial. But together with a lump in your throat or tears in your eyes, you also need to square off that original feeling with a pleasant image in your mind...Looking at a work of art should only make you happy."

Yep, that's it. It must be that -- looking at her art, or any art that I like for that matter, makes me happy. For others, it may be more complex than simply being happy about a piece of art. Nut for an art beginner like me, happiness is more than enough.

These days, it is true that shopping for art has become a more relaxed and fun experience. I've only recently been exposed to these affordable artworks when I started watching gigs a few summers ago at places like Saguijo and Cubao X, where quaint little shops have sprouted up selling affordable art. I love going to these places because there is beauty almost everywhere I look. Beautiful people, beautiful music, and beautiful art.

As I see more of this kind of art around me made by young people like myself, the more I get the feeling that it is also possible for me to make art, to make people happy like I have been made happy. I don't just want to start an art collection -- I want to make my own, too. For others, it may be painting, sculpture, or graphic design. For me, at least in the future, it will be Interior Design. It will be through Interior Design that I will get to express myself and produce art that fits, art that is a reflection of people.

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Wouldn't it be just grand if it turned out that I wasn't destined to be an Interior Designer after all? But the truth is, wherever life takes me, I will be there -- Interior Designer or not.