The Essence of Flora

In Latin, "essence" translates roughly to "the what it is". May it be an important element, quality, inherent nature or intrinsic aspect of a person or object, essence in its core form can become something fundamental, deep and meaningful.

As universal symbols of beauty, flowers have been prevalent throughout art history and its depictions in various media may they be ornamental, decorative, or symbolic have remained with us even with the passage of time. From the lotus flower in Ancient Egyptian adorned amulets to the present day renditions of more contemporary artists, we continue to be inspired by flora. Their visual, olfactory and tangible qualities make flowers a subject that allow artists to zero in on fresh ways to highlight their expressiveness, dynamism and playfulness.

There have been studies conducted which have proven that left-handed people have the tendency to be more creative. This is particularly true with Jesusa Marjorie P. Calanasan (b. 1978). Since childhood, she has been exhibiting gifts in ingenuity and imaginativeness, which only consistently developed and became enhanced over time.

Her creativity can also be described as multifaceted. She makes crafts, cultivates Bonsai plants and trees, and draws and paints, of course. Way back in college, her artistic versatility shone when, as a Mass Communications student of Miriam College, she was chosen to co-host an info-tainment TV show. When it comes to utilizing her mind, heart, and hands into producing unique works of art, regardless of the medium used, she truly excels. Throughout the years, she has been constantly included in noteworthy group exhibits. Two successful solo shows have also been credited to her, “Reverence” and “Genesis.” These two exhibits were witnesses to the evolution of her art.

In this exhibit, she explores flora in her own style by breaking down each element down to its core, straightforward and simple. Her joy is evident in the positive feeling emitted by the works as the viewer is pulled in with her choice of colors, the delicate bend of the petals and the symmetry of the leaves. In this, her third solo show, she works, inspired by Divine Providence looking forward to the future with much excitement, what with all the possibilities life, and her art may further bring.

The Essence of Flora by Joy Calanasan runs at Galleria Nicolas Glorietta from September 21-October 2, 2023 with an Artist Reception on September 28, Thursday at 5 PM. The gallery is located at the 3/F Art Space, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City. For inquiries, contact +632 8625 0273, +63 917 534 3942, or email info@gallerianicolas.com.