Paul Hilario

Name: ARTMAJEUR
Brand: ARTMAJEUR
Rating: 4.9 (12745 reviews)

Los Baños, Philippines •

Artist (Painting) •

Born 1972 •

Art is a reflection of the artist's mind

I paint visual narratives. I try to create stories with themes that range from the blissful to the brooding. Typically, my compositions are laden with common and personal symbolism. My works seem to have disconnected elements but they are linked in the way that I see them. To the audience, however, they are like puzzles; open to varied personal interpretations.

I wouldn’t say I like to confine myself in a box. Some days I paint social commentaries. On other days I just paint my observations of issues that pertain to almost anything under the sun - this can be political, social, environmental, religious, cultural, and even agricultural. I try to paint realities in, out, and of life.

Early in my career as a painter, I was mostly doing rice field landscapes and rice farmers in an impressionist manner influenced principally by Vincent Van Gogh. I didn’t paint rice fields because it was popular but rather because of my heritage and professional background. My grandfathers were fittingly a rice farmer and an artist. I worked for a rice-centered international organization for 14 years before moving on full-time to my creative passion.

In 2021, one of my artworks, Toil Today Dream Tonight, a rice-scape artwork, went viral when it was mistakenly attributed to Vincent Van Gogh in various countries. Many enterprises unknowingly created merchandise from the image of my work.

Largely self-taught, I was mentored early in my professional art career by one of the Philippines' most respected artists – Marcel Antonio.

For painting methods, I prefer to use a modified Byzantine-era painting technique that helps me create layers of colors developed through multiple glazing. Shadow colors are richer, hard and soft edges have increased contrast, and I am able to create a sense of melodic feel to the painting.

It’s an often repeated story, almost a cliché, but discovering where my heart and mind truly belong was a process of almost four decades. I never really planned to be a painter, but that was my destiny after all. It was a calling I couldn't resist.

Aside from the Philippines, my works have found their way to Australia, Canada, Denmark, Dubai, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.

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14 Reviews

Award Winning

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Exercises the profession of artist as a main activity

Biography

Largely self-taught, I was mentored early in my professional art career by one of the Philippines' most respected artists – Marcel Antonio.

Nationality: PHILIPPINES
Date of birth : 1972
Artistic domains: Works by professional artists,
Groups: Professional Artist Contemporary Filipino Artists

Ongoing and Upcoming art events

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Influences

Vincent Van Gogh, Marcel Antonio, Vicente Manansala

Education

1989 - 1996 BS Biology Major in Microbiology Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Artist value certified

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Achievements

Prizes and Awards

2022 Finalist - High Art Gallery International Art Competition California, United States

Publications & Press

2021 This Filipino Painting Has Been Mass-Produced As Van Gogh’s In Different Parts Of The World Philippines

Solo Expositions

2023 Return To Roots Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

2016 Beyond Vision - Nineveh Artspace Sta Cruz, Laguna, Philippines

2013 No Random Order - Gallery Nine Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines

2012 Videre Videnda Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines

Activity on ArtMajeur

Last modification date : Dec 27, 2023 (Member since 2013)

Image views: 78,857

Artworks by Paul Hilario added to favorite collections: 34

Reviews and comments: 14

My favorite artworks: 1

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Latest News
All the latest news from contemporary artist Paul Hilario

Added May 24, 2013

About Me

Hi, I am a painter from the Philippines.

I was born with the soon-to-prove proverbial, so I hope, silver fork in my brain. The super conductive Argentum fork tines send exterior visual electric currents into my right brain, enabling my hands to spread paint onto canvas sometimes convulsively, certainly variably, always creatively.

I paint from life, both physical and intellectual and I also don’t discriminate the brooding from the blissful.

I am a lively museum curator by day and a, ho-hum, sleep-deprived dark crusader from 3:00 AM to 6:30 AM weekdays. Despite having to paint at ungodly hours, I remain excited with my work. I relish in making art that are not just for your eyes but for other senses and with sensibilities too. I enjoy making art that tickles your mind, some analytical, evocative, and most often splashed with the colors of Filipino flavors.

Initially, I was influenced by the paintings of the Dutch post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh and Filipino modernist Vicente Manansala, until I stumbled upon the Marcel Antonio virtual school of art. Much encouraged at school, I travelled back to the Byzantine era (330 to 1453) to learn old master techniques and then time-warped back to contemporary art times to mix in my own art signature.

Although an undiscovered talent in the mainstream art circles in the Philippines, my works have found their way to collectors in Australia, Canada, Dubai, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, UK and the USA.

I have found love again. I believe that I will continue to paint until the day that my bladder can no longer hold my pee; even then, once able to purchase a nice latrine bag, I shall continue; for the love of art.

Added May 24, 2013

Exhibitions

Imago Mundi (Group show), Venice Biennale 2015
Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice, Italy
1 Sept to 1 Nov 2015.

Endangered Visions (Group show),
MANILART 2014
SMX, SM Aura, Taguig City

No Random Order (Solo show)
Gallery Nine, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
27 Aug to 15 Sept 2013

Mon. God. Faith. (Group Show)
Forest Rain Gallery, Singapore
Sept 2013

Joya: A Modern Native (Group Show)
Rockwell Tent, Makati City
25 to 27 Jan 2013

Let’s pARTy Philippines (Group Show)
Formafuego Artist Space
Quezon City
15 Dec to 5 Jan 2013

Videre Videnda (Solo show)
Art for Space Gallery, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
11 to 24 November 2012

Kapag Palay na Lumapit sa Manok Art Exhibit (Two- man show)
Cyberzone, SM Calamba City, Philippines
13 to 20 November 2011
International Rice Research Institute.
21 Nov to 4 Dec 2011

Persuasively Pinoy (Group Show)
Affordable Art Fair Singapore
F1 Pit Bldg, Singapore
16 to 19 November 2012

Tara’t Makisining Art Exhibit (Group Show)
Atrium, SM Calamba City, Philippines
May 2012

Rebelasyon (Group Show)
Sining Makiling Gallery, UPLB, Los Baños
26 June – 19 July 2012

GSIS National Art Competition 2012 Exhibit
GSIS, Pasay City, Philippines
July to Aug 2012

GSIS National Art Competition 2011 Exhibit
GSIS, Pasay City, Philippines
June to Aug 2011

Rizal ng Los Baños Art Exhibit (Group show)
Paciano Rizal Memorial Shrine
Los Baños, Laguna
Sep 2011

Flowers for Given (Group show)
UPLB Student Union Building
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
8 to 16 Dec 2011

MakiThanksgiving Art Exhibit (Group show)
IRRI Guesthouse
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
28 Nov to 16 Dec 2011

Reviews and comments

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Gérard Michel • 11 years ago

Good-morning Paul . very good visit to your gallery, I enjoyed your 2013 series I really like this style of painting. Congratulations again for all of your paintings. kind regards Gérard

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