MANILA, Philippines—Color is the driving force of visual art. For artist Vinson Yap, it is also a reaction to the contemporary art scene.

“I took up painting as I was frustrated looking for happy painting to decorate our new home,” he said.  “As most of the contemporary art was gory and creepy at that time when I attended art shows.”

It was this epiphany that galvanized the artist to try something else.
“I suddenly had the urge to try out visual arts.” he says.

This has led to a practice that combines Yap’s penchant for color with a unique technique that eschews the paint brush for the palette knife particularly for his ongoing   exhibit, “Visions,” at Art Underground.

“I am using the impasto technique using palette knife as my painting medium,” says the artist. “I do not mix my paint to maintain the luster and brilliance of the colors.  I paint directly on the canvas with paints straight from the tubes.  On the canvas is where the paints are mixed and combined to achieve the effect I want.”

Vinson Yap’s “Visions,” his 4th solo exhibition, runs until March 24 at Art Underground, 814 Balagtas St., Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. Call 7210745; e-mail [email protected].