In the search for the sublime

A solo exhibit by Kris Jan Gavino

Musing upon the desert landscapes of his works, Salvador Dali once said, “In that privileged place, reality and the sublime dimension almost come together.” The sublime is something many have an idea of, yet is so elusive at the same time. We search for the sublime to experience an elevated state, yet how do we define such a condition? What is it about the sublime that takes it a notch higher above the excellent, the beautiful, or the awe-inspiring? To know the sublime is, as Dali implied, a privilege. It is also a constant, enigmatic exploration.

In Search For the Sublime marks Kris Jan Gavino’s solo show where he uses his surreal, meditative iconography to express what he believes words alone cannot – an experience or state of mind that transcends perceptions. One might be tempted to box Gavino’s works within the genre of mind-bending surrealism, but he chooses not to restrict them with labels. “The more I define my works, the more I feel trapped by the same descriptions,” the artist claims. More than imagery, he aims for an intermediary of sorts. A place where one can think about the facets of reality so clear, yet so full of ambiguities. 

Gavino was heavily influenced by Dali in creating these forest scenes. For the artist, painting seemingly impossible visuals grants him the feeling of turning the intangible into reality. He chooses forests as his setting to evoke both the comfort and sanctity of nature, placing one in the mindset of rumination. Giant pocket watches remind viewers that time is something they can take hold of in the palm of their hands, but also something unpredictable that can grow far out of proportion. Impossible shapes populate each of Gavino’s canvases, imbuing even the simplest, bucolic scenes with an aura of the dreamlike. 

Do we find the sublime in these mysterious narratives? Is it only ever present in vistas of outward spectacle and wonder? Through the artist’s works, we observe how sometimes the search for the sublime can follow a quieter road – one perhaps lined with contradictions and spaces to contemplate both our external and internal realities. In Gavino’s own privileged places, we see the path to the sublime dimension is perhaps nearer to us than we realize.

– Text by Mara Fabella