Capturing women’s strengths in watercolor
During the pandemic when we were confined in our homes, we sought comfort from the same walls we used to escape and rediscovered what we often took for granted. In our confinement, we uncovered the beauty that eluded us and began to see the reflections on surfaces and the textures of the things we own. We observed the curves on our drapes and found solace in the shadows. We experienced a multitude of emotions in silence and in this quietude, we found ourselves embraced by our own homes.
These are the stories that Woven Memories would like to share with the public via Conrad Manila’s 23rd installment of its highly acclaimed “Of Art and Wine” exhibition series at Gallery C, this time featuring the works of watercolor artist Kyle Fortu-Legaspi.
The exhibit, on view until May 27, is in xline with the celebration of International Women’s Month.
The story of the experience is expressed through the gentle shadows of lace, the faint light from the windows, and the colors of the home reflected in the folds and textures of the weaves. Each painting includes a Philippine textile, delicately painted and included in the artist’s composition. The collection is a visual memoir of the blues and the stillness, which will soon fade and become a memory.
The exhibit is a visual tribute to the women who fervently helped maintain harmony and sanity in our homes during the lockdown. It is a series of floral, portrait, and still life watercolor paintings illustrating the strength that these women displayed in solitude and silence.
Chery Faye Legaspi, also known as Kyle, is a professional artist based in Manila, Philippines. After graduating from college and obtaining her license in Nursing, she studied at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. She was fascinated by the different textures and colors of the textiles she worked with and eventually decided to incorporate them into her paintings.
Kyle decided to learn watercolor painting in 2016, focusing on portraits and figures. She enjoys painting children because she lives with her nieces and nephews who enjoy modeling for her. Shortly, she became a commissioned portrait artist and worked on several projects including being a contributing illustrator for Philippine Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Mabuhay Magazine.
She joined the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists (PGW) in 2018 and became a member of the Board of Trustees a year after. She has participated in several gallery exhibits and her works have been exhibited internationally.
In 2020, she was given an award by the BC Arts Center for her watercolor piece in the You Art Not Alone Quarantine Art Competition. For three consecutive years, she has been in the top 3 of the annual PGW National Watercolor Contest. She has made it to the finals of three International Masters of Watercolour Alliance Contests and was granted an Honorable Mention Award for her work in the 2022 Women in Watercolor International Competition.
Most recently, she was granted a Merit Award for being in the top 200 watercolorists who made it to the International Watercolour Masters 2022.
Kyle is committed to contributing to the representation and development of Philippine art, especially in the field of Watercolor Painting. As a portrait and figure artist, she uses Filipino models in her compositions and uses Philippine textiles and accessories in her paintings.
Today, she lives happily with her husband and cats in Taguig City—and works in her home studio.
