Family
2025
About this work
"Ilaw" (Tagalog for 'Light') is a captivating and technically complex 2025 mixed-media artwork. Measuring 70 x 90 cm, this original painting is a defining piece from a landmark collaboration, bridging the artistic energy of Marseille, France, and Manila, Philippines. It is a profound exploration of identity, memory, and spiritual illumination, rendered in oil and acrylic on canvas.
The critical differentiator of "Ilaw" lies in its physical construction. The canvas itself has been intricately sewn and assembled by Olivia d’Aboville’s prestigious studio. This partnership elevates the traditional portrait into a tactile, layered narrative. Henri Lamy’s signature kinetic brushwork meets d’Aboville’s textile expertise, creating a "patchwork of consciousness" that is visually striking and conceptually deep.
The Gaze of Introspection: The primary subject, a portrait of a woman in profile, is rendered with Lamy’s high-saturation oil technique, capturing a sense of quiet focus and strength.
The Conscious and Subconscious: The canvas is split between the warm, grounded earth tones of the portrait's world and a deep, electric blue void. Within this blue space, a stark white outline figure emerges—the Ilaw or internal light—signifying the subject's spiritual or dream self.
Cultural Context: The background features traditional patterns and a highly detailed street-art inspired collage containing the word "ZiMe." This grounds the piece in a specific, lived urban reality, contrasting the physical environment with the subject's inner luminosity.
Collage and Textile: The portrait and the "ZiMe" collage appear to be torn and meticulously reassembled, physically embodying the concept of rebuilding and self-definition.