MEGA Man goes behind the canvas with Filipino artist Kristian Somera, tracing the roots of his creative passion and glimpsing into the palette of artistic endeavors awaiting him
When you gaze at diverse artworks, what captivates you? Is it the hues, the feel, or the untold tales within? For Kristian Somera, the essence of art extends beyond surface beauty; it’s the vibrant life he breathes into each piece that makes it uniquely special. In an exclusive interview with MEGA Man, he shares the significance of his artistic pursuits, providing a sneak peek into the uncharted creative realms he aspires to conquer as an artist.
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The poetry of paint
“When I saw Dead Poets Society as a little boy, I knew art would play a big role in my life. It isn’t necessarily a film about art, but there was a line that John Keating said that informed how I looked at life; ‘Medicine, law, business, engineering—these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, and love—these are what we stay alive for.’” Somera starts our conversation by reflecting on this moment, recalling the time when he realized his path would involve creating and evolving with art. He also talks about the day he came across a Mark Rothko painting in New York City, which was a turning point that showed him how vast the world of art could be. “I knew that this was the kind of beauty I wanted to breathe life into—a kind of visual poetry that transcends the structure of language and, in some cases, logic and reason,” he says.
Brushing across mediums
Prior to fully embracing painting, Somera shares that he delved into diverse creative pursuits, from filmmaking to creative writing, and even ventured into space design. He mentions that the idea of turning his love for painting into a profession wasn’t something he anticipated. Yet, fate always has its peculiar way of nudging us toward avenues that rekindle our enthusiasm for life.
“What is life anyway if not to pursue what sets your heart on fire?”
Kristian Somera shares his journey to choosing painting as a career
Artistry without borders
Reflecting on his feature in international magazines, the artist expressed his feelings as “delightful and unexpected.” Somera discloses that the opportunity unfolded when a features editor, responsible for curating art for the gallery section of British Vogue, discovered his Instagram page. An email followed, inquiring about featuring his artwork. “I had to do some digging to make sure the inquiry was legitimate, and to my surprise, it was,” he shares. Subsequently, another editor from Vanity Fair noticed the feature and reached out, offering another chance for international exposure. Despite these accomplishments, the Filipino artist maintains a humble demeanor, just genuinely appreciating the recognitions. “I’m rather new to the art scene—up until now, I couldn’t even say with absolute confidence that I’m a ‘professional artist.’ I just like saying, ‘I make art for a living.’ So to be recognized by prestigious international publications is both humbling and empowering,” he states.
Revealing another layer of himself, the artist admits that he hasn’t completely conquered his impostor syndrome. However, he underscores the significance of acknowledgments, particularly for artists like himself, in teaching the value of infusing passion into everything. He reflects, “If there’s one thing this taught me, it’s that if something is made out of love, it will get recognition. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a stranger who walks past a secluded gallery in which your piece is being showcased or from an international audience—if it’s a labor of love, it will resonate with someone, and if you believe you have the capacity to affect even a single person, a single soul, with your art, you have to keep making it.”
His most memorable work
Having built up an impressive collection of artworks, we asked about Somera’s favorite. Clearly grappling with the decision, he expressed the difficulty, likening his work to that of his own children. However, he highlighted a particular piece that held special significance—it was created during one of the lowest points in his life. Reflecting on that challenging period, he shares, “I was going through a crisis, and when this happens, I usually try to immerse myself in nature because I find that it calms me down. I was on a flight to Indonesia and as I stared from my window into the large ocean beneath me, I thought, ‘Man, I’m just a teeny tiny speck in the vast expanse of this world, this universe; how could I be worrying about such trivial things?’” It reminded him of the smallness of his worries. The desire to capture this epiphany led him to paint—not the expansive ocean visible below, but the emotion that descended upon him as he peered through that window, transforming that introspective sentiment into a compelling piece of artwork.
Merging artistic visions
Looking ahead, the future holds a vibrant and thrilling journey for the Filipino artist, filled with exciting plans. Besides sharing ongoing discussions about local and international exhibitions, he envisions stepping into the intersection of art and fashion. “I’ve yet to figure out how to do that, whether to learn new fashion-related skills or to collaborate the way Yayoi Kusama did with Louis Vuitton or Damien Hirst with McQueen. That’s still far down the line, but it’s definitely in the pipeline because I love fashion—I love art you live your life in,” he mentions.
Art has its own path
As our conversation came to an end, Somera imparted a crucial message to fellow artists: embrace your unique style and create art for yourself. He expounds, “This, I learned, is how you find your voice. I can’t recall how many times people have told me, ‘Add a pop of color,’ ‘You should add more of this,’ ‘Change that.’ If I had heeded every unsolicited comment I’d ever received, I never would have arrived at the style I have now.” He emphasizes the importance of having confidence in your taste and avoiding the trap of creating art solely to please others. At the core of it all, Somera’s belief is that, come what may, your art will naturally align with those who connect with it, discovering its intended audience.
Photography BELG BELGICA
