Katrina Cuenca’s “Tetrachromacy” is a captivating visual record of her artistic evolution, marked by fresh hues and shifting figures thrumming with life.
Katrina Cuenca recently presented her latest exhibition, Tetrachromacy, marking another year of artistic growth for the Filipino talent. The series served as the culmination of her creative journey thus far and was also her annual birthday show with Galerie Joaquin, featuring an array of paintings and sculptural works representing her main disciplines.
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A World In Fuller Color
It wasn’t too long ago when Cuenca discovered her ability to perceive a broader spectrum of color—a condition known as tetrachromacy, hence the exhibition’s title. Tetrachromacy is rare, and is typically found in individuals typically assigned females at birth, allowing them to see hues that others can’t, as they possess four different cones (a type of photoreceptor behind the retina) rather than three.
The artist’s practice continues to constantly evolve as she stays curious and perceptive to elements unique to herself, finding new ways to incorporate them into her art. Though she had only recently been aware of her tetrachromacy, its effects were evident even in her earlier works with their subtle shimmers of color and gradients that appear most otherworldly.
That said, the pieces in Tetrachromacy kick it up a notch with her latest experimentations on material, form, and color, introducing vibrant and dynamic hues that pay homage to her oeuvre while managing to feel new.
Tranquil Figures
Cuenca’s paintings, many of which are laid down on round canvases that symbolize wholeness and good fortune, are set against the soft luster of electric blue and blush pink metallic backdrops. Her signature abstract figures are enthralling, pleats and curves shifting to create a captivating interplay of light and color, forming shapes that resemble flowers or billowing draperies.
Reflecting her penchant for designer furniture, the Tetrachromacy collection also contains home decor pieces showcasing designs from her paintings, a notable piece being the sleek “Voido Rocking Chair.”
Her abstract sculptures are just as hypnotizing, twisting and appearing to levitate. As with her other three-dimensional works, these forms play with light and shadow, their hues always changing. They also elicit a sense of tranquility or peace, locking viewers in a solemn, almost spiritual state as they view the pieces, encouraged to pause and reflect.
Like the forms she creates, Cuenca is always in motion, evolving as she finds more sources of inspiration both within and outside of herself. Just as she sees colors that others cannot, Cuenca continuously draws inspiration from the various aspects of life that may be overlooked, transforming them into objects of ethereal beauty.
Galerie Joaquin Rockwell is located at the R3 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. For inquiries, contact Galerie Joaquin at +63 915 414 5502 or email galeriejoaquinrockwell@gmail.com.
Photos courtesy of Galerie Joaquin.
