Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Retrospective

by Earl Rina.
Thursday, January 9 to Tuesday January 21, 2025
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
Meet the Artist Times: Wednesday, Fridays & Saturdays: 1pm to 5pm.
Artist Statement: Playful Picturesque: Artfully demonstrates the connection between our daily experiences and the broader themes of sexuality, identity, culture, and the natural environment. A whimsical take on the exploration of movement, emotions, and adventurous colorful figurative visuals to show a connection between our daily encounters with our sexuality, identity, culture, and natural environment. I utilize bright and vivid colors, along with figurative shapes and humorous elements, to deliberately create contrast and irony within my art. This approach allows me to explore these serious connections in a lighthearted yet thought-provoking manner.

Chlorophyll, Grassland, Horizons, and Blossoms: The interconnectedness of emotional experiences with the significance and splendor of our natural world.
Chlorophyll: This series is a collection of acrylic paintings that celebrate the beauty and emotions of plants. Through each brushstroke and fluidity of color, I express the connection we have with nature and how it affects us physically and mentally. These paintings invite the viewer to enter a world where plants are amazing and remind us of the comfort and mixed emotions they give us throughout the seasons. The Chlorophyll series is a tribute to our shared experiences with plants and how they enrich our lives and remind us how important nature is to us.
Grassland:. The purpose of my artwork is to relay a vision of joyfulness, in particular, the connection between our daily encounters with our environment and the changing seasons. The environment that my artwork aims to show is the beauty of the forest, partly the boreal forest and the prairie woodlands and grasslands of Manitoba to make a statement and give meaning to their importance.

Horizon: A collection of photographs of the beautiful sky, showcasing the changing seasons, weather, and time of day. I use natural light, wide angles, and minimal editing to create a realistic and immersive experience.
Blossom: Captures the beauty and diversity of plants and their flowers/fruits in photography. It showcases the vibrant colors, shapes, and textures of different floral species, as well as the emotions and moods they evoke. It celebrates the joy and wonder of nature’s creations.
Short Biography:
Earl Rina (b. 1987) is an interdisciplinary visual artist, closely connected to their Filipino-Canadian heritage. Raised in the Philippines and later immigrating to Canada, Earl Rina has successfully merged their passion for healthcare and the arts, initially serving as a Registered Nurse and Visual Artist in the Philippines until 2018. Currently residing in Winnipeg, Canada, Earl Rina is dedicated to expanding their artistic education. Having completed an Art Program Diploma from the Stratford Career Institute (2021), they are now pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Degree at the University of Manitoba’s School of Art.
In their artistic practice, Earl Rina employs an array of media and techniques to explore and discover the intricacies of movement, natural patterns, and symbolic landscapes. Their work explores emotional experiences and the complex web of our daily interactions, thoughtfully addressing social themes such as sexuality, identity, and the nuances of Filipino-Canadian culture, all while maintaining a connection to the natural environment. Earl Rina’s multifaceted approach to art reflects a commitment to creating a dialogue on the inevitable connections that shape our world.

Earl Rina’s work, themed “Playful Picturesque,” presents a whimsical exploration of movement and emotions through adventurous and colorful figurative visuals. This series artfully demonstrates the connection between our daily experiences and the broader themes of sexuality, identity, culture, and the natural environment. The collections titled “Chlorophyll,” “Grassland,” “Horizon,” and “Blossom” delve into the interconnectedness of emotional experiences with the significance and splendor of our natural world.