In his sixth exhibition, “Happiness”, Roland Llarena invites viewers to explore light and darkness through the language of the colors black and yellow. Llarena draws inspiration from his personal and communal experiences, channeling them into a visual language he hopes the viewers can connect to.
Llarena’s art evolved from realism to non-objective abstractions, perhaps through the influence of his readings on Robert Matherwell. In this series, he tries to evoke emotional response and symbolic interpretation by highlighting the contrasting colors — black and yellow. Black is often associated with the unknown (the abyss), the absence of an object, and sometimes the depth of human experience. On the other hand, yellow has become a popular color of happiness, hope, and enlightenment. This contrast and interplay in the shapes invite viewers to reflect on the inherent duality of human existence as well as the world around them.
These recent abstractions also are reflections of the artist’s state of mind. He says , “Biskan damo ko problema and sacrifices sa kabuhi, ginpili ko mn gyapon ang mga bagay na gusto ko kag kuntento ako, sa sini na lipay gid ako”. For Llarena, happiness is a result of contentment.
Furthermore, Llarena also considers his art as his weapon or a tool that he hopes to spark a flicker of change in the community that he is a part of. Utilizing the evocative nature of abstraction, this exhibition aims to challenge the audience’s preconceived notions of art and encourage them to confront their interpretation of light and darkness.
