Dear reader, pause for a moment.
Take a look around the room you’re in right now. Notice any art or artefacts.
…
As you sit in your sanctuary, consider the whispers of stories that echo from the objects around you. Each item, no matter how grand or seemingly insignificant, holds a tale deserving to be told - perhaps shared over a cup of tea.
They are the keepers of memories and emotions, the guardians of our interconnected past.
If art could speak…
Allow me to introduce you to "The Sweet Life". A painting on my wall. It holds the tale of a journey, a connection, and a celebration of expression.
How it came to be
Trading NYC skyscrapers for palm trees. From ad exec to master of emotions on canvas. “The Sweet Life” comes from the hand and heart of Stephny Ofreneo. This particular artwork symbolizes Stephny’s personal transformation over a 2-year period in Bali.
It was meditative and intentionally a simpler style honouring the sweet chapter of her life in Bali. The Sweet Life was originally created as a donation piece to Suara festival. A multi-day feast of independent art, music, culture, and education presented through the lens of Bali’s rich cultural heritage.
The island and the communities she was part of, served as her muse, a haven of inspiration.
I’m fortunate enough that one of those communities was Voices Unleashed.
The Connection
In Stephny’s own words:
"At first, I attended Voices Unleashed just looking for something uplifting to be a part of as a silent participant. The world was in such a solemn place, and to be able to have an evening spent with storytelling, was so enriching.
I sat in the audience and just listened to the poetry, music, and was energized by the pulse of positivity in the room. I never expected that soon after, I would be invited to do a live painting at some of the Voices Unleashed events, and share my artistry with others (when painting is usually a very individual art form) - while the beautiful words and sounds flowed around me.”
Stephny went on to grace the VU nights on several occasions. Bringing bold colours to life, drawn from the brave and open-hearted souls who stepped on our stage.
Interwoven storylines
When Stephny left Bali, The Sweet Life stayed. Enlivening the walls of a Pererenan cafe. I don’t recall the exact sequence but somehow Stephny and I got to talking about the painting and I professed my love for it. Without hesitation, Stephny set the events in motion and within days The Sweet Life was hanging in my home.
Why now talk about this piece?
That has to do with Andrea. For those who don’t know, Andrea is one of my co-founders for Voices Unleashed. He himself, a multi-disciplinary artist. From visual art to poetry to photography.
2 weeks ago he visited me. A little collaboration shooting. Some artsy shots on film. Some portrait-style digital shots for my own portfolio. It was clear to me that The Sweet Life had to be in there. Representing our interwoven paths that layer much deeper than just three people.
If you think about it, it’s the amalgamation of our individual journeys in art. A showcase of love for creation and community.
The sweet life draws its taste, not from the shiny objects in front of us,
but through the extraction of emotions from the palette underneath.
Suck out life’s sweetness
Now, dear reader, I ask you to delve deeper into the hidden stories within your own home. Examine the artefacts that fill your space, and unravel the emotions and memories they harbour.
By unearthing these narratives, we learn to care for our surroundings and imbue them with greater meaning.
Let "The Sweet Life" be a reminder to cherish the connections we forge, the beauty we encounter, and the ability of art to heal and inspire. As we journey through life, it’s these moments of love, grace, and understanding that make our existence truly remarkable.
Embrace the challenge to live boldly, to suck out life's sweetness, and to be continuously inspired by grand designs and tiny gestures.
With love,
Roel
Closing comments from Stephny to Roel
“Even after leaving Bali, there is still a strong continuation of support for each other's artistry and passion between Roel and me. It is a beautiful thing to have a gift of poetry and words that impact others on so many levels, which Roel emotes so well in writing and speaking, and especially in his way of communicating and motivating others. And I am so honoured to have my final painting now at his home, to continue to hopefully create inspiration for him and his guests, the way the Voices Unleashed community moved me.”
About “The Sweet Life”
"The Sweet Life" (115x115cm) is the final painting that Stephny Ofreneo created during her two years living in Bali, Indonesia. In this painting, after a period of vibrant artworks, the colour palette was a purposeful shift from the bold colour style of those two years, in an effort to consider the beauty of the natural tones of the island life.
About Stephny Ofreneo
Stephny Ofreneo is an emerging abstract acrylic painter, who had been working in NYC for 14 years in ad agency life, before moving to Bali for two years back in 2020. During that chapter, she tapped into the freedom of time and new beginnings, and picked up a paintbrush and started creating bold-centric colours with staccato & legato brush strokes based on what emotion came to mind.
Stephny aims to capture meaningful visions in her paintings that spark the heart and make the soul sing. Stephny’s brushstroke technique is channelled by feelings pulled from sound around her, whilst painting - whether it’s conversations, music, nature and whatever memory or emotion comes through to the canvas.
Her artwork is interpretive; it is meant to have you feel...not just see.
Part of her unique process when painting a commissioned piece is to ask clients for specific songs they like, while visualizing the space that will hold the artwork, as well as to listen to their life stories. Stephny then paints with these selected songs, in order to encapsulate the vibe in the personalized piece.
Stephny has exhibited her work in London, NYC, and Milan.
She is currently represented by Singulart.