World Art Dubai Profile: Erwin Viado and “Within the Concaval Walls”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 6, 2015 – Erwin Viado is one of the featured artists in this year’s World Art Dubai. Happening from the 8th to 11th of April at the Dubai World Trade Centre, here’s a peek of the artist and his most personal collection of work to date, “Within the Concaval Walls”. “I am fascinated with the whimsical, its sophisticated innocence and the rather isolated humor it tries to cover and convey, all in such childlike wonder,” so says Erwin Viado on his collection.

With no formal education in the arts but a genuine artist at heart, he pursued various interests – dabbling with drawings, interior and jewelry design which earned him an award in the 11th Philippine Fine Jewelry Design Competition; yet his true passion remains in his love of painting. After graduating from college in 2008, he moved to the capital of Manila, Philippines to pursue a Nursing career. 3 years hence and as fate would have it, he was hired as a curator at his uncle’s gallery, NERO Studio. An avid art collector, his uncle had a vast collection from the great Philippine masters as well as gifted upcoming artists. Here, the artist was exposed to works of Arturo Luz, HR Ocampo, Frederico Alcuaz, Edades, Jef Dizon and Ramon Orlina – all masters in the art world.

Starting with dots, lines, human figures and abstracts, Erwin Viado has found himself an avenue to showcase his works for the first time at World Art Dubai. His work is devoid of calculated artistry offering a raw and fresh take into the vastness of human fantasies - passion, romance, artistry, power, mystery, fame, sophistication, innocence, seduction, faith and sensuality. His work echoes the dichotomy between the real and the make believe world, using hushed tones, subdued hues and a tinge of satire to illustrate, to mock, or to allude to the fantasy.

“I draw inspiration from the human capacity to dream, to desire, to hate, to love and to laugh with an impassioned pursuit to portray these strong emotions in a muted often light interpretation meant to delight and appease the viewer all at once,” Viado enthuses. After his stint at World Art Dubai, he is looking forward to a solo exhibit in the Philippines with his next collection – “The Filipina”, paying tribute to the modern woman in contrast with her roots.