The Flame of Enlightenment by Geraldine Zialcita.
From the very start, artist Othoniel “Otto” Neri already knew what his true calling would be. Born and raised in the Philippines, as early as one year old, Othoniel’s mother found him oblivious to his surroundings, drawing shapes and stick figures. While in school, Othoniel would fill the back pages of his notebook with his illustrations.
As a self-taught artist, at twelve years old, Othoniel transitioned from illustrations in his notebooks to painting on canvas. In 2003, he pursued one year of Fine Arts at the International Correspondence School and has garnered several awards in international and local competitions. His keen eye, strong attention to detail, and knowledge of blending shades have produced profound and meaningful pieces for the past twenty-two years. “I released my art to the mainstream fifteen years ago. Being a full-time artist is a huge achievement and has provided me with the greatest fulfillment,” he shares.
With a solid drive to hone his craft, Othoniel kept a steady focus to fulfill his childhood dream. Othoniel believes that art serves to be the best tool for artists to communicate and deliver their message to the audience. “Artists are like prophets of their time.” He smiles.
With a strong desire to be part of a cultural awakening, Othoniel reveals a twist in his work, defining the Filipino culture that has been highly influenced by Western culture. “After being colonized by the Spaniards for over three hundred centuries, followed by the Americans for many decades, the Philippines lost their identity. I want to preserve our heritage, beliefs, and culture. I want to reclaim what’s truly ours and my artwork enables me to express this,” he states.
Notable artists like Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, and Anselm Kiefer are one of the artists who have greatly influenced and shaped Othoniel’s development. “I am also very fond of Norman Rockwell because of how he portrayed the daily lives of the Americans during his time. I often told myself that I want to be the Norman Rockwell of the Philippines. However, as I evolved in my career, I realized there is a higher calling for me to create a statement and depict the social realities which are better than characterizing the lives of the Filipinos, that way my paintings can speak up against the rotten system of our society,” he informs.
Othoniel’s art gravitates to Pop Social Realism, which ranges from very dark social commentaries to pop Filipino culture, adding a twist of iconography, appropriate to pun art. He embraces figurative and impasto techniques for painting and is also a ceramic tile mosaic artist. “The message of my art pieces demonstrates the wounds of our history where I forewarn the present generation to avoid making the same mistakes of our ancestors. With my heavy impasto technique, I use a palette knife to mix the elements to translate into a powerful message,” he describes.
Othoniel can complete a painting in three to five days if he uses a regular canvas. On other occasions and depending on his mood, it can take three to five months to finish an artwork. Going through a mixture of emotions is part of an artist’s journey in composing and implementing ideas. “Deriving the concept may take days to six months since I am driven by my experience and the environment at that moment. I want the concepts to take form before jumpstarting a painting. The current situation in our surroundings and society is what shapes my ideas and compels me to immerse in my artworks,” he briefs.
Othoniel uses under paint, acrylic, and oil for his finishing touches. He uses six to ten layers of paint for each art piece to achieve and deliver the desired effects and message he wants to come across. “Art is my first wife, and the more I profess my love, the more radiant my pieces become. The ecstasy I feel while painting is endless and gives birth to an orgy of colors and strokes to deliver an intense and passionate connection with my audience,” he conveys.
Like all artists, the most rewarding experience for Othoniel is when his artwork connects to his viewers. Understanding the message beyond his paintings and establishing a solid connection with his viewers has always been Othoniel’s end goal. “My objective is to always produce beautiful and meaningful paintings that people can relate to. Like our native ampalaya vegetable, if uncooked, the taste is bitter, yet once cooked, it’s bursting with flavor. I use this metaphor for my dark Social Realism pieces that may appear depressing but with the right aesthetics, my viewers have overlooked the dimness to appreciate what it stands for,” he affirms.
Despite the naysayers who didn’t believe in Othoniel’s dream and visions, discouraging and labeling him as too ambitious with his work, he never faltered. Othoniel is living his ultimate dream of using his creative impression to fulfill his utmost potential. Over the years, he has learned that pursuing what you love most, devoting one hundred percent effort, and using the very best of your capabilities will manifest into a fruitful and rewarding outcome. He is based in Alitaptap Artists Community, Amadeo, Cavite where all the magic happens. “The path that led me to where I am now involved a rough road with financial struggles, yet I never succumbed to defeat and kept going, believing in my purpose and knowing that all the hard work will produce a harvest. I’m enjoying every moment and value the constantness and consistency in learning,” he expresses.
Othoniel is a living example of how hard work, discipline, and time management can equate to promising results. He balances his time between his art, family, and the community. He plans to create more monumental art in painting and ceramic tile mosaic, train more leaders in art to be part of the cultural awakening, and teach young artists in molding their craft so they can succeed in their careers.
Othoniel eats, breathes, and lives art. He uses it as a medium to express his message, ignite one’s perception and define an underlying purpose. Othoniel “Otto” Neri is the flame of enlightenment.