Cover Demi Padua (Photo: Instagram)
Demi Padua (Photo: Instagram)
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From humble beginnings, this painter has shown remarkable growth and is now sought after by collectors
Renowned Filipino contemporary artist, Demi Padua infuses his hyperrealistic figurations with abstractionist style, to create art that catches the viewer’s eye and holds them in a mesmerising trance. Padua has come a long way to tell his stories through paintings of individuals shrouded in layers of picturesque ideations. But how did all this come to be? What does his artistic process look like? All that and more will be answered in this edition of Tatler’s Artist in Focus.
In case you missed it: Art in the Park returns this March with over 60 exhibitors
Padua’s love for illustration was awakened at the early age of six years old when he would watch his cousin’s boyfriend draw. He would then try to emulate what he saw through stick figures. His love for comic books amplified the spark that was starting to grow into a flame. From there, he started branching out from his simple stick figures and created more intricate illustrations. “I remember copying the drawings I saw in my books and comics. I tried to draw figures that had more mass to them,” said Padua.
When high school came around, he visited the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on an educational tour. The moment he saw Juan Luna’s Spoliarium, his hobby transformed into passion. “I want to be an artist. I want to be like Juan Luna. From that moment, I started learning how to paint on my own. I started combining colours and practising tirelessly,” shared Padua. For him, seeing the Spoliarium with his own eyes was an unexplainable experience. The small spark within him was suddenly fueled and everything caught fire. The iconic painting called to him and inspired him to pursue an artistic career.
But life was unkind to the young aspiring artist. He had to stop studying briefly because money was tight. Upon returning to his studies and graduating high school, he immediately started working to support himself and his family. Padua thought his dream of becoming an artist was dead but fate was not done with him. “Every job I got after high school was artistic. I did set designs, I created mascots, and I did puppetry,” said Padua.
After making a living for himself, Padua went back to studying to chase his dream. He began joining art competitions hosted by Shell, Petron, and Metrobank. He wanted to stand out from the other contestants but would often find himself in second place or the honourable mentions—never first. Padua said to himself, "Before I graduate, I have to win a grand prize.” And sure enough, in 2005, during an on-the-spot painting competition at Far Eastern University during their college week, Padua won.
“I only had two hours to work on my submission because my girlfriend and I had a date,” Padua shared with a laugh. “So I left instantly without really expecting anything. Suddenly my professor called me and said I had won the grand prize.”
From then on, he got the validation he’d been wanting to realise that being an artist is not far-fetched. He began exhibiting his works at Galerie Astra while working as a graphic designer for a garment company.
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Padua’s work began with abstractionism, but he says that his first love was figurative art. One of his first buyers was Senator Sonny Angara, who loved his abstract work. Urged by the gallery owner to continue that art style, Padua soldiered on. However, he learned to love the method through Filipino visual artist, Lao Lianben. “I went to the college library and saw his book. I had a unique feeling when I saw his work. Lao Lianben inspired me to continue abstract art despite my love for figurative work,” said Padua.
His artistic style draws from figurative art and his childhood past time of compiling things together. “ When I was a kid, we didn’t really have money so the toys I had were often broken. So I would tear them apart and combine them together and create something new,” shares Padua. While he started out with abstractionism, his work is now known for the high levels of detail each piece has. He paints faces conveying different emotions, layered underneath photo-realistic materials that reveal each individual’s identity.
This deviation from the traditional figurative style is what makes Padua’s art distinctly his. By incorporating abstraction, he is able to tell stories from his childhood while being proudly different. “The goal of every artist is to be different. You won’t be seen if you’re similar to someone. So I created my own trademark. I want people to know that it’s me when they see my work,” said Padua.“As an artist, you can’t just keep painting. You also need to invent and innovate,” he quips.
As evident in his use of vibrant colours in his paintings, Padua wishes to bring comfort to his viewers and buyers. The sombre, black-and-white faces are often covered up by lively—almost whimsical—hues, conveying that while some times may prove difficult, happiness will always come out on top. “I went through a lot of hardships in life—plenty of unfortunate events. I don’t want my art to focus on that. I want to show the beautiful side of life. I want people to think that it’s possible to count on hope,” he shared.
For the 18th edition of Art in the Park, Padua returns once again to showcase his special exhibit, Open sFace, consisting of mixed media collages and paintings. “It’s titled Open sFace because it’s my way of saying that you’re free to do what you want to do [in a space],” said Padua. “I want to remind people to live their lives. These days, we’re so worked up with our careers and our jobs—it’s like we’re living in a box. Give yourself some time and get out there,” he continues.
For Padua, art is something that stays in everyone’s subconscious. It’s what nurtures our minds and souls—the very representation of your passion, whatever that might look like. “You can’t measure art by anything. You can never contain it. It’s what drives you to live,”
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
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A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
