Paper boats and new beginnings in the art of Clarisse Aguilera

A paper boat may stay afloat only briefly, but for visual artist Clarisse Aguilera, its fragility carries a quiet affirmation of life. It symbolizes impermanence, she said, but “what makes it meaningful is the fact that we continue to sail despite knowing that we cannot stay afloat forever.”

Often accompanying the boat in her paintings is a dandelion, a symbol of “the possibility of new beginnings.” Together, these recurring images suggest that uncertainty need not diminish hope.

An artist from Meycauayan, Bulacan, Aguilera draws on influences that include Bob Ross and her training at the University of Santo Tomas. Her figurative works, often ethereal in atmosphere, give visual form to emotions and reflections on life.

Her series Where Dreams Gather was featured in In Between Form and Feeling, a group exhibition with Mary Joy Go, Lee Concepcion, and Don Verano at Eiden Art Gallery in Marilao, Bulacan, from 10 to 24 October.

For the series, Aguilera drew inspiration from the beauty of silence and the restorative moments that help people face the world’s noise and the demands of daily life.

“I want to explore the idea of a pause, not as the absence of movement, but as a necessary calm space for us to breathe, recalibrate, and find the strength to begin again,” she said.

Finding oneself in art

Aguilera hopes viewers will recognize something of their own lives in her paintings. She wants the works to connect “to the viewers’ stories rather than my own.”

“I think I would eventually arrive to a point that I can say I did not fail as an artist when those who view my works would see part of themselves there,” she explained.

Her influences are varied. Rather than following a single artist or style, she draws inspiration from particular qualities she encounters across different art forms.

For Aguilera, making art is a form of visual communication and an essential part of culture, reflecting the perspectives, experiences, and narratives of its time. She encourages others to continue creating original works, particularly amid concerns about the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative practice.

Making room for art

Aguilera’s creative process is shaped by the resources — and hours — she has at hand. It is, she said, “largely about working with what is available to me, not just in terms of art materials, but also time.”

“As a mother, wife, employee, and graduate student, responsibilities abound, so I try my best to still find room for art in between the different chapters of my life,” she added.

Within those intervals, she continues to experiment with composition, materials, and surface treatments.

“From smooth, ethereal finishes to rough, grungy textures and mixed-media approaches, I like allowing each piece to take on a character of its own,” she said.

As she works, she considers how a painting might be experienced: the feelings it could evoke, the memories it might stir, or the personal stories it could bring to mind. These possibilities inform her process while leaving the meaning open.

“I also want to leave enough room for viewers to form their own interpretations and connections with the work,” she said.