In celebration of National Women’s Month this March, Conrad Manila Hotel launches the 34th installment of its well-praised, much-anticipated Of Art and Wine exhibition series at Gallery C with a solo show by an artist to watch: Kara Pangilinan.

Woman in Progress features a collection of 29 ornately adorned paintings in ink and acrylic that highlight the beauty of growth and change.

“As an artist, I see myself as a work in progress, and through this exhibit, I wanted to share a bit of my own ongoing evolution. By intentionally showcasing my transitioning art style, changing palette and constantly evolving body of work, I want viewers to be reminded that we are all multifaceted, dynamic, ever-changing beings,” Kara expresses.

Her work, inspired by human emotions and experiences, finds expression in her distinctive use of lines and patterns.

“Each piece in this collection can be characterized as intricately detailed, and perhaps even a little overwhelming. But that’s what being a work in progress feels like sometimes. That’s what going through life feels like — like there’s too much going on both inside and out, too much happening all at once,” she expounds.

And yet, she adds, that’s precisely the beauty of life. “Every stroke and every line on every piece allowed me to breathe a little bit deeper and feel a little bit more at peace, and I hope that’s what viewers feel when they see the paintings.”

Pangilinan describes her style as elaborate expressionism, as she meticulously adds intricate detail to all sorts of scenes and subjects, predominantly revolving around ladies, linescapes, lace and leaves. Regardless of the theme, it is the finer specifics that distinguish her work.

She first ventured into the art world in 2011, creating exclusively black-and-white pieces with pen and ink as her primary medium. This led to her artist brand name Details Ink and the signature monochromatic aesthetic seen in her early pieces.

In college, she eventually began to create murals and illustrations for renowned brands such as Heineken, Johnnie Walker, Mentos, Samsung, Toblerone and Google.

Eventually, she transitioned to incorporating color into her pieces, exploring acrylic and ink as her preferred media, developing a trademark aesthetic which blends complex patterns with emotional storytelling.

With Woman in Progress, Pangilinan invites visitors to embrace change and transformation, celebrating the continuous journey of self-discovery. The exhibit serves as a reminder that we are all works in progress and that growth, no matter how complex, is something to be cherished.

Curated by Nes Jardin, consultant of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation and the visionary behind the Of Art and Wine series, this public display continues the tradition of providing a prestigious platform for both emerging and established artists to unveil their craft.

Of Art and Wine: Woman in Progress will be on exhibit from 11 March to 10 May.

The paintings are available individually for purchase. For more information, please contact Conrad Manila at +632 8833-9999; Kara Pangilinan through +63977-8299114; or email Ruston.Dongaol@ConradHotels.com.

¡Enhorabuena, Kara Pangilinan!