Moms and Dads
Kenneth Montegrande Brushes Up With The Colors Of The Circle Of Life
Coupled with some recent reminders of mortality, single dad and self-taught painter Kenneth Montegrande paints reminders of how the Circle of Life goes on.
As parents, it’s hard not to be morbid. Especially when we get sick, we start worrying about how our children would survive without us. But it’s also a different kind of difficult to convert that sense of dread into art. A self-taught painter and single dad of two, Kenneth Montegrande, celebrated his birthday with his 17th solo exhibition themed “The Circle of Life.” With famous leaders’ sayings, his recent brushes with mortality as his muse, and his experiences as a father, he transformed all that inspiration into a gallery of paintings.
What the Diary of a Painter Looks Like
Parents have different ways of expressing their feelings. Some do it through flavors, others do it through words. Kenneth does so with colors. As one of the first Southeast Asian artists to have their work collected by the Japanese distinguished art collector Yusaku Maezawa, it’s a grand achievement besides helping his two daughters find their own kind of art expression which they have found in the cosplay community.
Most people think death is full of sad and dreary colors. But Kenneth’s depiction ironically is one full of bright and vivid colors, showing that Death cannot exist without Life.
Life Has a Lot of Colors to Enjoy
Although it’s hard to ignore and accept the inevitable of us leaving our kids (or vice versa), there’s still a lot more moments to enjoy with them. Whether it’s cheering for them in a tournament, celebrating their first step into their passion, or even their wedding, each of those moments adds a new color to the canvas that is modern parenting. And if you find yourself vacillating on what Life means, maybe it’s time to find your answers not on a magical window of light but a vividly painted canvas.
Kenneth Montegrande’s 17th Solo Exhibition runs until March 30 at Galerie Joaquin, Rockwell.
More about parents pursuing the arts:
Her Ode to the Filipino People: Solenn Heussaff-Bolzico’s Kundiman
Jodi Sta. Maria Takes Culinary Lessons: “No One Can Take Learning Away From You.”
Lisa Macuja-Elizalde: Strength Found in Grace
