Kundiman

Solenn Heussaff

Curated by Teresa Herrera.

March 26 – April 24, 2021

Modeka Art | Main Floor
20A La Fuerza Plaza 1, 2241 Don Chino Roces Avenue, 1231 Makati

Solenn Heussaff, a French-Filipina painter whose work is rooted in social realism embarks on her third solo exhibit in Manila. Each canvas is a product of months of labor-intensive work based on photographs she has taken while out of the streets and culminates after years of creating and accumulating pieces.

The title of the exhibit, KUNDIMAN (defined as a classic form of Filipino love song), is Heussaff’s heartfelt expression of love and appreciation for the Filipino people.

The “love song” begins in a series of large-scale paintings set in destitute environments, providing an up-close look at the state of our fellow Filipinos with tattered clothing and sober faces. The perspective and eye contact with the subject says, “I see you”, giving awareness for their conditions, but most importantly, acknowledgement for their humanity. In the same light, the subjects in the paintings give blank stares back to the audience, as if to ask “What’s next?”.

Acting as the chorus of the song are canvases filled with exotic and untouched jungle scenes. Heussaff uses the fantastical imagery juxtaposed with the subdued faces, as a poignant reminder of what was: abundance and balance. Unlike the urban-scapes, she fills the jungle scenes with layers of foliage and creatures, giving depth and richness to the pieces as well as a message of hope, morality, and optimism.

The last verse is still to be written, leaving it up to the audience on which direction they want to take the song. Though the exhibit’s pieces portray daily scenes most people want to ignore, Heussaff brings into focus the current reality most Filipinos are in with honesty and compassion.