The Unlikely No2

This painting is the second in the series inspired by religious Icon paintings and the more graphic and decorative style of artist Alphonse Mucha. it invites us to consider who we choose to idolise, how are biases play into this, as well as the shared experiences that may bind us to them.

I suppose you could say that this work is a little more personal than my other paintings given its questioning of some cultural beliefs I grew up with as a Filipino. This includes dismissing the wisdom of youth; demonising native, and indigenous customs and traditions; and what seems like the unrelenting pursuit for white skin. But there is also this constant wrestling with a deeply ingrained colonised mindset, because although the person in the painting in her posture is meant to question all of these things, I've ended up painting her quite Western-looking, So perhaps there is an acknolwdgement about privilege as well in this (the ability and freedom to engage in this or not) balanced by a touch of impostor syndrome (the doubt whether one is Filipino-enough to credibly engage).

The halo features gold metallic paint that is shiny in the right light :-)

A matte varnish has been applied to this painting. (as I do for all of my paintings). I've tried my best to provide clear and accurate photos of this work, but please note that colour nuances may not be captured perfectly by digital media and vary from screen to screen.

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I create art as a hobby, both to completely disconnect from my corporate job and to reconnect with my inner child who loved to draw, design, imagine and make. I’m self-taught, with a love for the different modern western art movements that occurred between the late 1800s and in to the first half of the 20th century.

My intention when I paint is not to achieve realism, but to bring the viewer into the painting to experience a fleeting, yet common human feeling, thought or observation - a familiarity to remind us that we're not alone in our experiences. To express this, I like to play with colour and loose brushstrokes, and be open to a range of styles from landscapes and figurative paintings, to still lifes and abstraction.

After completing a Masters Degree in Art History in 2020 I realised that there are so many other kinds and styles of art that inspire me and for which I hope to continue studying and reflecting in my own practice. I aim to learn something new with everything I create, which is what motivates me to continue to make art.

You can find more on my Instagram @jhoannamonteart