What is daily life to you?
In everyday life, it’s the unopenable packaging that ends up in a mess when torn open; it’s the desire to have a good breakfast, but breaking the yolk while frying an egg, spilling the milk – a somewhat helpless yet familiar scenario. For Spanish artist Eva Armisén, these are all unique moments. Skilled in narrative painting and using self-portraits as a medium, she captures imprints of life. Suddenly, the thought of people nowadays taking photos, tweaking them with editing tools, and then posting on social media, feels like a polished process. Honestly, is the person in the edited photo still truly themselves?
Thinking back to my childhood art classes, the teacher would always ask us to draw self-portraits. The ease of it, not even needing to look in the mirror much, capturing the most genuine, flawless version of ourselves on paper. But as we grow older, we realize how challenging it is to depict ourselves truthfully. It’s difficult because we are not easily able to see ourselves clearly, or perhaps we all have some degree of “appearance anxiety,” being unwilling to face our true selves. “I believe that looking at oneself after growing up is indeed difficult because we are easily influenced by others’ and society’s perceptions. Therefore, for me, painting is a way to pursue truth and also a way to examine my inner self.”
In Eva’s self-portraits, she always depicts herself with deep brown curly hair, rosy cheeks, and lacks the so-called golden ratio, angles, or finely sculpted features. Instead, amidst her flat nose, round face, and small eyes, there is an added warmth and kindness, as if embodying her inner child. Eva says, “Creating self-portraits is because I am the storyteller, and I am just sharing what happens around me. So, this is not merely a self-portrait, but rather a depiction of what I feel during creation.”
This self-portrait record is almost like a diary, seeing ordinary days as unique, whether it’s the flowers and butterflies by the roadside, a hot and steaming dinner, or a quiet afternoon one day, all exude a warm, loving, and joyful atmosphere.
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Observe Carefully: Emperor Butterfly
Feeling bored with the same daily routine? It might be because you haven’t slowed down and observed carefully. So, come to her art gallery, take a leisurely stroll through it, feel it well, that’s exactly what Eva wants everyone to do.
Looking at the paintings on both sides, the little girl depicted always wears a smile, her hair is wildly varied, sometimes a dense mass of words, sometimes colorful marine creatures, 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 leopard lacewing butterflies. And these leopard lacewing butterflies seem 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 germination 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 that imagination and thoughts can take you anywhere, as butterflies come from there.”
Speaking of these butterflies, it turns out they are all handmade ceramic products by her. She has put a lot of effort into the ceramic work, 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 a one-way journey of up to three thousand kilometers, going through 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, 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 wishes for the “A Flying Head” art exhibition area to become a sanctuary for the soul, allowing everyone to draw love’s strength from the paintings to overcome various difficulties and challenges, similar to the resolute will of the monarch butterfly.
Destiny at Harbour City
Flying is undoubtedly not easy, but painting takes her around the world to share her thoughts and ideas. It is through art exhibitions that she came to Hong Kong, experienced the city, and left behind unique memories and significance.
For example, taking the Star Ferry back and forth to enjoy the scenery, the romance and beauty on the boat, or even after work, watching the lights in Central come on, each scene is very charming, so she is deeply captivated by it. She can’t help but sigh, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, she misses Hong Kong a lot. “I think this is a unique city. Clearly, it blends different features, forming a unique fusion of cultures, with a strong traditional Chinese spirit, which is fascinating, and I love it.”
Not only does she share precious memories in Hong Kong with everyone, but these bits and pieces have also become nourishment for her work – the tall buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour have become a part of the little girl’s hair in her works, just like flipping through the memories in her mind. This year, holding an exhibition at Harbour City again, she said it’s great to be back here. Looking back, she had held painting exhibitions at Harbour City in 2013, 2015, and 2019. This solo art exhibition titled “A Flying Head” is curated by CMay Gallery, showcasing over 30 latest selected artworks, including oil paintings, prints, and a series of limited edition collectibles for sale.
In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and she laughed, “For me, it has always been an honor. This is the fourth time, and the previous three exhibitions have been a huge success. Also, I believe this gallery has the most beautiful scenery in the world, and the people are very friendly, which makes me feel great!”
The happiest moment
This artist, who draws happiness, 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 goes on roller coasters to explore, she can be the mother who takes her whole family to the carnival to play, and she can also be the girl who lies alone on the couch cuddling with a cat to fall asleep. These “little important 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 whimsical, such as “A Nap,” “A Walk,” “Family Portrait,” much like the casual items in the painting, without earth-shattering plots, just mundane daily life yet striking a chord.
Because of its simplicity, viewers can easily resonate with it, projecting their own stories into the artworks, and realizing that happiness is right by their side. What are the moments or things that make you feel the happiest?
Eva Armisén “A Flying Head” Art Exhibition
Date: April 25th, 2024 – May 19th, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location: Harbour City Art Gallery (Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre)
