EDWIN Tres Reyes’ latest solo exhibit, Dream Machine which ran at the Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in Makati last May 29 to June 8 combined oil-on-canvas and resin sculptures in depicting dream states.
However, the emotions in the eyes of subjects in the paintings differed from the sculptures’ seemingly large, lifeless eyes.
“I want to tickle the minds of my viewers and I want them involved in the completion of the stories behind my works,” the artist said.
Tres Reyes explained the works depicted the process of having an individual dream turned into a collective reality. The viewer participates in the recounting of each childhood story in every painting, he said. “Adi the Superhero” depicted a boy wearing a yellow and red superhero outfit, a matching red half mask and a blue cape. The boy was shown holding his arms up to his shoulders, as if showing off his strength.
“Gustav and Buddy” portrayed a young stable boy dressed in dark tones of brown and a green ascot flat cap beside a white horse.
Both paintings were inspired by Tres Reyes’ five-month-old only son, Gustav Adeo.
Meanwhile, “Red Hoodie Doggy” featured a dog wearing a red zippered hoodie and a tall black hat atop his head. A boy wearing a small rainbow-colored cap rode a red bike adorned with colorful wheels and a box of toys was featured in “The Toy Show.”
Tres Reyes depicted art as child’s play in “Horses,” where a small cowgirl is shown riding a white pull toy horse. He said that repainting it should awaken the viewer into a state of innocence and wonder.
A product of UST’s College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Tres Reyes had several solo exhibits in the country and in Singapore. Aliliana Margarette T. Uyao
