Nebula
Group Exhibition Featuring
Kyla Garcia, Selah and Ana
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“In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing.
And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . .
You—only you—will have stars that can laugh!”
—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Crafting stories is an expression of ascribing meaning to life in any era and age. Nebula features Ana, Kyla Garcia, and Pattpiha who have meticulously built worlds to share with their viewers. As young artists who are well-acquainted with the modalities of modern living, where the physical and digital aspects of life and community intertwine and sometimes spill over, each one of them has developed their personal style that helps them translate the time’s complexities.
They find a common ground in the whimsical, cute, and eye-catching illustrations of youthful characters who reside in fantasy worlds. With visuals that blur reality and fiction, they have the freedom to manifest scenarios where anything can happen.
Nebula invites us to be inside the star nursery, where the three of them show us how their works constellate, not only by presenting their harmony but also their individual capabilities in wielding multiple media. The artists are likened to nebulae, colorful and glittery to the eye, yet powerful and fearsome enough to be the regions that birth new stars. All of this happens in the cold darkness of space, where star nurseries emerge as beacons of light.
The resulting forms associated with cuteness do not immediately equate to an aversion to more difficult themes, but rather, it ushers a seamless integration of more compelling ideas. They traverse stories such as friendship, girlhood, growing pains, loneliness, personal freedom, and unity particularly in the lives of young women finding their place in the world.
Just like how the North Star guides lost travelers, their art are companions along the contemporary landscapes of life, where digital interconnectivity does not necessarily erase profound isolation. It’s having room for oneself — expression, thoughts, choices, beliefs, and all — that becomes the impetus for the journey to self-discovery, an undeniable part of life that helps hold up our purpose.
The show is a celebration of the vibrance and cosmic potential of urban landscapes and people, while also nudging us to meditate on our human experience of its rapidity. How has the formation of our identities become impacted by our reliance on technological advancements? Nebula is a poignant reminder of our inherent need for connection, assuring us that amidst the hazy and gaseous state we are in, there is an opportunity to create constellations that illuminate the way.
