“Undertone: What’s your muted voice”

Randy “Andoi” Solon traversed deep into his emotions, taking from within himself into his canvas a memoir of his struggles and triumphs. His difficult circumstances had enabled him “to appreciate the humility of life, tranquility, and generosity of God” he said. He ponders upon the essence of pain as an “inevitable scrap of reality” in understanding our life as human beings and the effects of pain that could bring solace.

In Undertone, Solon presents his visual translations of his personal experiences, forging familiarities and connection with his audience on unspoken meanings and emotions—inviting them to see with their eyes, reflect, and render on the same canvas—their unheard voices and experiences. Probing his aesthetic sensibilities by adopting a limited color palette that leans closely to monochromes, he captures the vividness and vibrance of his subject matters. Such influences from the Dutch master, Rembrandt, were especially shown in his fascination with shadows.

What separates Undertone from his other solo exhibitions are the denuded and camouflaged subject matters that enable the viewers to challenge their emotive heart and rational mind and evaluate their desires and life experiences. One of the subject matters in Undertone tackles the endless striving of man against daily life confrontations, where an inner light neutralizes all anxieties and hope illuminates life struggles. This exhibition is intriguingly paradoxical, allowing the audience to look beyond the scabs of oil paint and primed canvases—towards seeing the beauty of the undertone or the muted voice and unspoken emotion.

“As a visual artist, I often strive to make accurate representations of the world we live in. My career as an artist has its flights of fantasy, evenings of gloom, and moments of exhilaration. Visual art gives voice to my aspirations and emotions; and my words are constrained by the swiftness of my hands, brushes, hues, and shapes of the canvases. If my art brings you joy today, guess I have spoken.” – Randy ‘Andoi” Solon

[Written by Kim Khor. Edited by Sarah Jean Ruales. (2023)]