Edwin S.

Maniulit
BA-201, ArtApp
Dr. Alfredo B. Santos, LPT
August 21, 2022

See, Think, Wonder: IMAGINE THE UNIVERSE

The work is in the shape of a flower, a rose specifically, if looking from the

top. A small cluster of petal-like shapes originates from the center with increasing

sizes of similar petal shapes going around. The center presents a very small

opening from the cluster of petals that are bunched together. The color used is light

blue and pink with shades of white. The overall texture of the work is smooth and

gentle. With soft shapes, texture, and color, the work gives a very pleasing

appearance that soothes the mind of this writer.

 From a closer look at the work, the center is resembling a sphincter from the

vantage point of an animal or human anatomy. The petal-like projections

occupying the frame are in concentrical layers on top of each other forming a

blossoming illusion. The colors are soft hues of blues and reds or teal and pink,

separated by shades of whites and with darkening lines forming the shapes of

smooth velvety petals. The overall impression on first look is that the center of the

painting is a blooming petals-like projection that lines the periphery, creating the

background. The center cluster is made of small or “young petals” nestled on top

of the pile of larger petals; seemingly still about to grow to join the rest. This

creates a movement, an illusion of petals growing from the center and spewing out

into larger ones piled on each other, covering the frame, and extending beyond its

border. There are two possible interpretations of this artwork. One is symbolizing

the beginning of the universe as the title of the piece suggested. The art piece

suggests that the beginning of everything comes from the center and grows,

represented by the larger petals around it. There is a similarity to that of the Big

Bang theory, the beginning of the universe; from the center growing outward

without a finite border. The second interpretation is the explicit illustration of

human parts namely the female genitalia and just below it, is the illusion of an anal

sphincter. Consequently, both are in correct anatomical relation to each other. The

choice of color is also very interpretive; as blue represents the human male species
and pink, the woman. To others, this may be their universe itself, sex and love,

without regard to the actual stellar body. With the sensuality and sexuality, that

the artist is trying to portray, the audience had to look very closely and see beyond

the sense of sight to see the artist’s intent. It is camouflaged and well-hidden as if

the artist is enjoying seeing the audience's baffled looks during the discovery of the

images. All in all, this is a good piece of artwork. It is pleasing to the eyes and

great in boosting a good feeling though left with mysteries to its meaning, as all

artwork does.

The artist may as well be interpreting the workings of the universe through

lines and colors and dimensions and at the same time illustrating another center of

the universe for most, which is sensuality, sexuality, and or love. The correlation

is so vague that from metaphysical to physical, the artist beautifully fused the two

for reasons unknown. Or, after all this second-guessing, the artist could have just

been doing doodling exercises and decided to put some colors in it.