The Fragment of His Soul by Geraldine Zialcita
The spontaneity and expression of Edwin Wilwayco’s painting strikes a chord, encourages you to imagine, shapes your perspective so you can express a huge WOW.
Edwin was born and raised in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. He enjoyed growing up on the farm and exploring the forest. As the eldest child, Edwin cherishes fond memories of his childhood sharing a deep bond with his father. “My most distinct memory of my father is how he never wanted me to see him carrying heavy loads while crossing the river. I didn’t understand it back then, but now I realize he didn’t want me to endure the hardship he was going through. Instead, my father encouraged play time through his talent and fondness for illustrating cartoons. I was five years old and he would make me and my siblings laugh at his drawings. He’d draw a fat man, then a thin man, and would add a mustache or a hat, all within a short time frame. After my father completed his presentation, I would retreat to my bedroom, copy all his illustrations, and dash to his side so I can show them to him. This always brought a big smile to my father’s face, acknowledging I took after him,” he shares.
When Edwin was in first grade, he drew figures and objects on his test papers after completing his exams. Unbeknown to Edwin, his teacher appeared at his house to inform his parents that their child should refrain from performing unnecessary scribbles on school property, as she declared. Yet, who would have thought that her label of unnecessary scribbles would be the foundation of what’s yet to come. “The irony of it all, was when I was in fourth grade, my teacher then asked me to draw on the blackboard. To her astonishment, I copied everything from the textbook with no errors. This time, my teacher saw the flawlessness of my work.” He winks.
After graduating from high school, Edwin’s father convinced him to pursue a degree in Agriculture so he could help him manage the farm of Edwin’s grandfather. “I told him I had no interest in dealing with plants and animals and preferred to be an architect. However, he informed me that Architecture involved too many Math subjects, so I shifted my choice and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, majoring in advertising from the University of the Philippines,” he informs.
While at the university, his talent was discovered granting Edwin a painting scholarship. “As an artist, I don’t conform to a nine to five job, and although we yearn for stability in this field, the reality is we don’t earn anything unless we sell a piece of artwork. This is why I worked for thirty years in the advertising industry since I needed to sustain my wallet while also feeding my soul,” he defines.
Yet, while Edwin projected his creativity in advertising, his first love always haunted him. “I often hear other artists say they will start painting when they retire, yet I thought to myself this would seem unrealistic. Had I waited to paint when I retired, my bones would ache and my dexterity and agility will not be as sharp as my younger self,” he quips.
Fueled by his passion, Edwin picked up a brush, canvas, and palettes, and never looked back knowing each painting represents a self-discovery and an opportunity to create beauty, express love, and feel surge amounts of joy. As an Abstract Impressionist, Edwin’s goal and objective are to differentiate each series he works on. In 1976, his first solo series, Images of Exuberance was a success, and shortly after, Edwin got married to Loby and had a daughter which he named Moma after the Museum of Modern Art. In 1979, Edwin showcased his second solo exhibit, The Flag series, yet it didn’t share the same fate as the first one. “I only sold one painting. The art collectors were disappointed since they felt that flag paintings could only be displayed in government offices. This incident brought me to tears and I never felt so devastated in my life. I felt like this was the point of no return and I decided to quit painting,” he discloses.
After three years of setting his passion aside, Edwin bumped into his previous Art professor who shed some light and provided encouragement. “He said painting requires persistence and I should never give up. He motivated me to apply for a scholarship in London. In 1982, I pursued further studies at the British Council Scholar for Painting at the West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, England. This is where I immersed myself by producing non-traditional paintings. I painted a series of cathedrals, school chairs, and hangers and ropes inspired by the view from the window of the school studio,” he relays.
In 1983, Edwin exhibited his plates and paintings at the Hidalgo Gallery which proved to be a success and enabled him to bounce back stronger. Filled with vigor, in 1989, Edwin projected his Jeepney Fantasia series at the Ayala Museum. In 1992, Edwin unveiled his Painted Screens: Heliconias and Birds of Paradise series at the Ayala Museum which was inspired by the garden his wife tenders to.
To date, Edwin has completed thirty-three solo exhibits and forty-six group exhibitions. He has garnered numerous awards and citations for his work of art. After forty-seven years of being in the industry, Edwin now draws inspiration from classical music. “I usually paint at two or three o’clock in the morning because this is when my creative juices flow. When I was introduced to the music of Mozart, I discovered I could sway my hand and felt like I was transported back in time. Classical music has been fundamental in developing my craft and creating my work series,” he states.
Each painting Edwin completes bears a piece of himself―his mind, heart, and soul. In every exhibit I release, I always ensure my presence is evident. I don’t treat my painting like a roll of textile. The artwork needs to resonate with me. My style has been an evolution of works influenced by internationally renowned artists like Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Richard Diebenkorn. I am greatly influenced by Filipino artist Jose Joya who was the dean when I was studying at the University of the Philippines. I also admire Rod Paras Perez and Constancio Bernardo,” he briefs.
While all the paintings he has completed serve to be a discovery for Edwin, he unleashes art to make a mark on his canvas, evoking powerful emotions to draw people in. “I want my paintings to be alluring, to captivate people, and allow them to form their own interpretation. This teaches me to learn from their observation and gain insight from their perspective,” he describes.
While every artist possesses their own rituals and habits to indulge in their creativity, Edwin engages us with his own regimen. Before starting his work, Edwin drinks a cup of coffee and prays for guidance. “I paint when I’m positive and in control. I want all the palettes arranged in order since I’m an organized painter. Preparing a painting can be tedious, so I want my surroundings to be pleasant and neat. I work on several paintings at a time to develop a series of 30-40 paintings,” he explains.
Edwin currently has a group exhibit at the Gallery Joaquin at the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati, and will be releasing his next exhibit on October 14, 2022, at the same venue. Wave Cadenza is inspired by Mozart’s music where Edwin imagined himself on a sailboat surrounded by smooth, majestic, and endless waves.
Edwin considers himself to be an old soul who enjoys mingling with other artists, musicians, and writers. When he’s not working, Edwin loves reading magazines and spending time with his wife and daughter, who is a graphic designer that graduated from Rhode Island School of Design.
Aside from the euphoric feeling of basking in his artwork, Edwin acknowledges there’s more to just a painting. “Even if I’m the creator who has given birth to a piece of artwork, each painting has a life of its own. It unravels a deep mystery and deciphers a code that I can leave for the next generation. I’m grateful for the creative expression and hope to be blessed with more decades of doing what I love most and sharing my work with the world,” he concludes.
Edwin captures the many facets of his surroundings to create unity and transform them into beauty, harmony, and magic. Edwin Wilwayco defines and connects art as the fragment of his soul whispering wonders to the canvas.