Julie Gil’s visual definition of faith

Visual artist Julie Gil’s debut solo exhibition, ‘Palette of Allegory’, is a window into the human experience, depicted through the delicate medium of watercolor and mixed media. The show, currently on display at Art Lounge Manila in Molito until November 29, showcases themes of freedom, transformation, hope, affirmation and faith.

Gil used stories in her allegorical images. “The main elements or ‘character’ in this exhibition are the flowers and insects, birds and other small animals,” she explains. “Their interaction in the painting and the clues from the title and short captions convey the theme.”

One such piece, See it, have it, is about the power of faith and intention. “Here we see three birds in the foreground, looking for their provisions for the day. Two aimlessly or anxiously search for the solution from different directions, one bird is fixated on its goal. He sees it, he will get it. We experience what we see. We allow what grabs our attention, whether it is sadness or happiness,” says Gil. “What you see or perceive, whether it is real or not, and what you allow to incubate in your mind, is contrived. What you imagine is ultimately what you receive. It is my visual definition of faith.”

The artist’s inspiration for this body of work stems from her keen observation of nature. “I look at nature – flora and fauna in particular – and watch their movements in my mind, and then I ask what is the message here?” she says. “I paint those who have helped me along my journey through life, in the hope that viewers who have experienced or are currently experiencing the same will connect and be affirmed, uplifted, or pointed in a positive direction on their own journey.”

Gil’s creative process is as fluid and intuitive as her art. “Sometimes I bring order where there is chaos, other times I bring chaos where there is order,” she reveals. “Also in terms of working method, I sometimes start with watercolor, sometimes with other media. Even though I have an image in my head, it often changes. Not the message, but the visual interpretation of it. Even that is an allegory in the making. We can plan our lives all we want, but unplanned changes destroy us or lead us to perfection.”

The artist’s dedication to her craft is evident in every brushstroke. “I would say that all my paintings have my distinctive attention to detail, from concept to display and framing,” she says. “But there is a pain that not only challenged me artistically, but also spoke vividly to my heart. I called it Handicrafts. As I made each petal of the flower and each wing of the dragonfly, I realized how intricate, individually conceived and wonderfully made each of God’s creations is, with each creation having a purpose, a passion and a reason for being. We are all God’s handiwork with our own unique roles. We all seem to work best at the intersection of our gifts and passions, individually. And as a species, dragonflies play an important role in the pollination process, so we humans also play an important role in each other’s lives.”

As for the impact she hopes to have on viewers, Gil simply longs for a connection. “The best scenario for me is when the viewers feel so connected to the artwork and its main message. Or they can interpret the message themselves: that they want to have the piece permanently and buy it,” she says. “Seriously, not every viewer would connect with the painting the way it connected with me during its creation. So I let the painting communicate with the viewers, for their best benefit.

Through “Palette of Allegory,” Julie Gil invites us to slow down, reflect, and find inspiration in the beauty of the natural world and the human spirit.

“Palette of Allegory” runs until November 29 at Art Lounge Manila.