To you, what is daily life?
Daily life is like a package that cannot be completely torn open, torn apart messily; it’s wanting to have a good breakfast, but breaking the yolk while frying eggs, spilling milk, feeling a bit helpless but also accustomed to it? For Spanish artist Eva Armisén, these are all unique moments. Skilled in narrative painting, using self-portraits as a medium, she leaves traces of life. Suddenly thinking about how people nowadays take photos, edit them with beauty tools, and then post them on social media, it feels like a seamless process. Honestly, is the person after editing really still oneself?
Thinking back to when I was a child in art class, the teacher would always ask us to draw self-portraits. It felt so easy, almost without needing to look in the mirror again, what was drawn on paper was the most genuine and flawless version of ourselves; but as I grew up, I realized how difficult it is to accurately depict oneself. The difficulty lies in the fact that we are not easily able to see ourselves clearly, or perhaps we all have some degree of “appearance anxiety” and are not very willing to face our true selves. “I think that looking at oneself after growing up is indeed very difficult, because we are easily influenced by the opinions of others and society. So for me, drawing is a way to seek the truth, and also a way to examine my inner self.”
In Eva’s self-portrait, she always has curly dark brown hair, rosy cheeks, and lacks the so-called golden ratio, angles, or intricate three-dimensional features. Instead, between her flat nose, round face, and small eyes, there is an added sense of warmth and kindness, as if she is the inner child within her. Eva says, “Creating self-portraits is because I am the storyteller, and I am just sharing what happens around me. So this is not just a simple self-portrait, but a depiction of what I feel when creating.”
This self-portrait record is almost like a diary, seeing ordinary days as unique, whether it’s flowers and butterflies on the roadside, a steaming hot dinner, or a quiet afternoon, all exuding a warm, loving, and joyful atmosphere.
Further reading:
- Afa Lee – Inner Child Journey | Art City Travelogue
- 【Singers Chan Kit-ling, Fung Wan-him Interview】Legendary meets new generation, gathering together in Hong Kong music!
- The most Instagram-able city in the Middle East that you must visit in your lifetime! Explore Qatar – Doha’s 5 most eye-catching tourist attractions
Observe with Heart: Emperor Butterfly
Feeling bored with the same day-to-day life? It may be because you haven’t slowed down and observed carefully. So, come to her exhibition gallery, walk slowly through it, feel it well, this is exactly what Eva wants everyone to do.
Looking at the paintings on both sides, the little girl depicted always wears a smile, her hair wildly changing, sometimes dense with words, sometimes colorful marine life, and most of the time blooming flowers. Suddenly looking up, the latest painting with the same title “A Flying Head” is right above the ceiling, with the little girl in the painting adorned not only with flowers on her head, but also with dancing monarch butterflies. And each monarch butterfly seems to have flown out of the painting.
Eva believes that hair represents the complexity and beauty of human thoughts, symbolizing boundless imagination; while flowers, at the moment of blooming, not only exude vitality but also showcase the story of a life from sprouting to its most brilliant moment in nature. “The head and heart are the most important parts of the body and soul, and this triptych aims to emphasize: imagination and thoughts can take you anywhere, and butterflies come from there.”
When it comes to these butterflies, they are actually all handmade ceramic products by her. She has put a lot of effort into the ceramics, each one is unique, and this process has also given her a different perspective and feeling.
This butterfly species – the Monarch butterfly, is actually quite rare. They migrate from Canada to Mexico every year to spend the winter, flying up to three thousand kilometers one way, undergoing several generations in the process. Eva is deeply inspired by their resilience and perseverance, “The Monarch butterfly’s flight distance is so long, especially the crossing from Canada to Mexico, which is very unique, and it is the power of nature.”
She hopes to encourage the audience to maintain a strong will in the face of adversity, and also hopes that the art exhibition area of “A Flying Head” can become a spiritual refuge for the audience, allowing everyone to overcome various difficulties and challenges with the power of love obtained from the paintings, just like the unwavering will of the Emperor Butterfly.
Destiny at Harbour City
Flying is of course not easy, but painting takes her to different parts of the world to share her thoughts and ideas, and because of art exhibitions, she came to Hong Kong, experienced Hong Kong, and left behind unique memories and meanings in Hong Kong.
For example, taking a round trip on the Star Ferry to see the scenery, the romance and beauty on the boat, or even after work, watching the lights in Central come on, every scene is extremely charming, causing her to be deeply immersed in it. She couldn’t help but sigh, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, she still misses Hong Kong. “I think this is a unique city, obviously, it blends different characteristics here, creating a unique combination of cultures, with a strong traditional Chinese spirit, which is fascinating, and I really like it.”
She not only shares precious memories in Hong Kong with everyone, but these little details have also become nutrients in her work – the tall buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour have become a part of the little girl’s hair, just like flipping through the memories in her mind. And holding an exhibition at Harbour City again this year, she said it’s great to be back here. Looking back, she had held painting exhibitions at Harbour City in 2013, 2015, and 2019, and this solo art exhibition titled “A Flying Head” was curated by CMay Gallery, featuring over 30 selected new paintings, including oil paintings and prints, and selling a series of limited edition fine products.
Ten years have passed, she smiled and said, “For me, it has always been an honor. This is the fourth time, and the previous three exhibitions have been hugely successful. I think this is the most beautiful gallery in the world, and the people here are very friendly, making me feel very good!”
The happiest moment
This painter who draws happiness still insists on using every ordinary thing she experiences or observes in life to remind people to discover happiness around them.
In different scenarios, she plays different roles. She can be the girl who holds hands with her lover and rides roller coasters to explore, the mother who takes her family to the carnival to play, or the girl who lies alone on the couch and falls asleep hugging her cat. These “most important little things” are accompanied by gentle and delicate strokes, soft and vibrant warm colors, making them feel ordinary and happy.
Eva’s naming of her works is also very casual, such as “A Nap,” “A Walk,” “Family Portrait,” like the random things in the painting, without earth-shattering plots, just mundane daily life that still manages to be captivating.
Because of its simplicity, the audience can easily resonate and insert their own stories into the artwork, discovering that happiness is right beside them. What are the moments or things that make you feel happiest?
Eva Armisén “A Flying Head” Art Exhibition
Date: April 25 – May 19, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location: Harbour City Art Gallery (Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre)
