An artist drew attention in Dagupan City with an exhibit featuring abstract expressionist paintings that aim to evoke calmness and personal interpretation among viewers.

Artist Iñigo Acuña said he further developed his passion for painting during the pandemic, guided and inspired by his father, who is also a well-known painter.

Acuña’s works focus on abstract expressionism, an art movement that emerged in the United States in the 1940s and became a dominant trend in Western painting during the 1950s.

He said one of the defining qualities of abstract art is that viewers can create their own interpretation of each piece.

“I just want the calmness. The feeling of calm. When you come home, you see the piece. There is warmth. You’re at home. You’re not over stimulated. It’s just something calm into the eye,” Acuña said.

Originally from Baguio, Acuña now lives in Manila. Before pursuing painting full-time, he studied theater and also worked as an actor and model.

Among his featured works are the “Cobblestone Series” and the “Liquid Series,” which make use of layered textures and metallic materials.

“It’s more about flooding the canvass with painting. I used different kinds of powders there. Metallic colors that touch the light,” he said.

Acuña also introduced his “backlit paintings,” which combine artwork and lighting systems to create a more interactive viewing experience.

“Backlit piece which I’ve never seen anywhere in the world. I’ve not seen paintings with lighting system,” he said.

“The idea there is, I want to create a painting that the viewer can participate in the creation,” he added.

The exhibit marks Acuña’s third art show, and he expressed appreciation for the support he received from Dagupan’s artist community.

He also shared his goal of holding a back-to-back exhibit with his father in the future.