ART REVIEW:   The Playful Angel Queen

By:  Ethel G. Rubio

I remember Dennis in college to be a highly creative Fine Arts student. I remember him giving me this beautifully handcrafted bookmark, which I still have to this day. We were in the same residence halls in the premier public university in the Philippines, the University of the Philippines, during our college years. We lost touch until I found him on Facebook over thirty years later. I discovered the enormous body of artwork that he had done through the years. I am proud.

Among his beautiful collection of artworks, this one stood out to me:  Angel with a Heart. It resonated with me as a symbol of feminine strength and empowerment. It also speaks of generosity and playfulness.

I was curious to ask what inspired him to create this painting…

Dennis replied, “I painted this after going to the museum watching Vermeer's collection. I have a fascination with curtains, and Vermeer painted a lot of them.

So, I started painting that with a green curtain in mind. I didn't make any rough study or draft on paper. I went straight to the canvas.

While painting the curtain, I just wait for my mind what to paint next. So, a woman appeared behind the curtain… The woman turned out to be a queen. But ended into an angel...longing for a heart.”

From what he shared further, I discovered his technique and process for this immensely powerful yet playful piece.

After painting the Queen that turned into an Angel by adding the wings, he added two flowers because the curtain looked empty. Then he realized that something was still missing, so he added the butterflies and twirling vines to finish the playfulness that he wanted to convey and signed his name thinking that he was already done.

Yet he hesitated to put it out on exhibit. Is it perhaps because there were still essential elements missing?

He continued to reveal that, “I displayed it on the wall behind my computer and I have been staring at it for months now. A few weeks ago, I added three ladybugs on the vine.”

I learned from him that his process is pretty systematic when it comes to commissioned work. He drafts a sketch before the image and can spew it out in a week’s time.

When he paints for enjoyment, as a form of expression and inspiration, he can work on a painting for months, years or even decades.

As long as he is in possession of his paintings, they keep on changing and transforming. So, signing his name on them does not mean they are done.

For me, the Angel with a Heart is a finished masterpiece. Yes, the three ladybugs are the perfect punctuation to this powerful painting. The combination of vibrant colors that he used is a Dennis Sun artwork branding.

If I were to own this one-of-a-kind artwork, this Angel with a Heart would be perfect as a three feet x three feet square focal point in my living room wall. It is a visual statement about me and who I am.

The Angel with a Heart is part of the Dennis Sun Art Exhibition entitled “A Little Happiness: Here and There” on display at Tully's Coffee Shinjuku Ni-Chome in Japan from September 1 through October 31, 2022.