連雅德·帕拉斯

This work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and sound. There is light wear and handling around the edges of the painting. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no evidence of restoration. Unframed, on a stretcher.
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Born in metro Manila in 1982, Lynyrd Paras is among the group of young prominent contemporary Filipino artists making their marks in the global art scene.  The present work, The Friend, is a significant painting that describes the artist’s new chapter in life. At his new studio away from the cramped city, Paras discovers a new sense of belonging. This painting represents the artist’s personal growth as he further matures as an acclaimed artist.   

Brightly colored and cheerful, The Friend depicts a young girl holding hands with her transparent mirror image while they stand side by side. Laying bare the inner-workings of the child’s mind and soul, what Paras captures here is the abstract quality of innocence. Within the outline of the mirror image are objects associated with the discipline of painting and artistic creation, such as paint brushes, palette knife, scissors, rags, oil paints and more. On one hand, this painting is a direct depiction of the protagonist’s interests and hobbies, and on the other, a personification of the artist’s self-portrait.

Painting himself as a young girl, Paras utilizes the protagonist’s youth and innocence as a metaphor for a fresh start and a positive outlook. The open blue skies and the boundless horizon imbue the painting with a sense of hope. Origami is a typical game among children to be enjoyed in solitude. Displaying paper planes, houses and birds, Paras is perhaps conveying that being alone does not necessarily entail being trapped in loneliness, if we are a friend to ourselves. The Friend hence demonstrates this very moment of self-actualization.