Most artists have their own style and approach in making a piece of art, and for Ed Lorenzo, his recent work collection is not just about the abundant and overflowing craftsmanship of colors, movements, and accents that marries emotions, feelings, and anxieties. But a celebration of the life of a lost loved one and the sweet sorrow that fuels his passion moving forward.
Ed -as his friends would call him- grew up in the province of Rizal, where he first set his foot in the world of visual arts at a very young age. He admits to always being fond of art that he sees in his daily commutes to and from school. “There is something about art that sparks my curiosity. I like documenting the sceneries and the colors that I see on paper and keeping it in my art shelves.” He quips.
The years that followed saw Lorenzo grow in his appreciation for his passion. Using different mediums such as watercolors, poster paints, and acrylics, he started designing and customizing his brother’s old canvas shoes through painting, where he got featured in several television shows and publications.
The artist’s works were steep in pure abstraction, where he expresses all his feelings and emotions through colors and movements. “I’d like to think that painting has given me an avenue to show not just my talent but all the emotions-both positive and negative- that I’m feeling,” says Lorenzo.
For the past two years, Ed Lorenzo stopped creating art pieces after a tragic event that happened in his life. First, he lost his father in 2019, and just last year, his closest brother died due to an autoimmune disease. With no determination and struck by sadness, these consecutive events have led Lorenzo to put everything away and shelve all his works. “For a moment, I felt like I don’t want to pursue this passion,” says Ed. “It’s too much for my family and me to handle. I don’t have the drive to create something. But my mom told me to push for it and fight the strong current of sorrows,” he added.
Armed with passion and full of emotions, these days, Lorenzo sees painting as his way to celebrate the life of his departed brother. Recently, he found the courage to continue making art pieces knowing that there is a deeper meaning behind every work that he makes, “I found more peace and comfort now, knowing that I’m dedicating these pieces to my Kuya, which I call ‘Di Magmaliw,” he shares.
‘Di Magmaliw is a Tagalog word that means “not to forget,” Lorenzo crafted his collection under that title which signifies their love for his brother that they will never forget. Pieces of his collection are often playful and mysterious as it is often introspective. Using colors that are sometimes monochromatic, analogous, or complementary, Lorenzo accentuates his works with a mix of other mediums to depict flow and movement matched with concentric circles and round textures in Gold and Bronze. “For me, I’d like to believe that these lines represent the flow of being, and these orbs and circles are the lives that we live in this physical world,” he explains. “With the passing of my brother and Father in two consecutive years, I learned that life is but a fleeting opportunity that we need to treasure. So, make the most out of it and appreciate it to the fullest.” he closes.