Hersley Ven Casero by Ramon del Prado

(The interview was done in Bisaya-English. The italicized words are english translations from the conversation for accessibility for a wider audience.)

Here's a peek into the mind of one of Dumaguete City's most fun and prolific visual artists, Hersley Ven Casero.

RdP: Hersley when did you discover this gift?

HVC:  I think I started drawing when I was 5 years old. I was still small then. But not using paints or acrylics or watercolors. I only used wooden sticks, or, kagingking, kawayan, kahoy. And I usually draw on the soil in our frontyard. So that's where I began. And then, I entered kindergarten which is 6 years old. And then, I will never forget, my first ever drawing or artwork that was the reason why I decided to do more art was a helicopter. A helicopter. A very simple line drawing of a helicopter. And then it was featured by my teacher on the bulletin board. As the artwork of the week! I was given  juice and bread! When I graduated from Kindergarten, my teacher gave me an award, I think that was best in art. By that time, I don't know what is, a so called artist. And then, mom was told that I would be an artist when I grew up. I laughed it off because I had no idea what an artist would be.

The first formal art competition I joined was in grade 2, against grade 5 and grade 6 pupils. and of course I did not win. During that time, the only material I had was that very bristled brush you know that brand, Guitar water color. What we used that time is kartolina and then. When I was making artwork, I made a hole through the kartolina!

But then, I think the thing about me is that I am an "unfrustrated" kind of person even when I was young. The more I feel defeated, the more I am challenged, and the more I face the battle or something like that. I was challenged. I will practice drawing!

And then, my parents, I mean, they did not really support my art, by that time, but that was because they had no idea what I was doing.  And then, the only material I had was water color that was really bristled and also, I think 6 colors of Crayola crayons! So it's very very, starting from very humble beginnings my art.

Hersley at his studio.

RdP: Tell us about your Influences

HVC: In high school I had a coach. There I learned about Fernando Amorsolo, And then one of the earliest works that influenced me if you notice my works now have very stylized faces? With open mouths. I distorted them after I was exposed to the works of Onib Olmedo. Olmedo distorted the figures and I really liked the idea and the possibilities! I did not know it was possible! I started applying these in my later contests, making new styles as I go along. Developing, developing until college in Foundation University. There were no fine arts programs in the schools then.

Maam Muffet Villegas was my first serious acrylic and oil art instructor. She taught me how to use materials but I got shy because she would invite me to their house and I would be the one fed and given materials even! I owe a lot to her back then. I still do.

I had a lot of encouragement, from teachers, Maam Moffet, scholarship opportunities from Foundation University, meeting other artists in Dumaguete, eventually my parents, and my family, they understand already that this is my life, even when I was still in college, I'm coming from a very humble, poor, family.

I had 4 great artists I've been watching my whole life. The great titans.

Matisse, Dali, Picasso, and Warhol. I really studied them. How they dealt with their work while they were alive. I looked at their daily life. What a crazy life an artist has! Messy lovelife, messy family life, their art career is a struggle!

My favorite is Picasso. I am really impressed by his work. In the internet, I see he made his works in series. He had a blue period, a rose period, and cubism later on.

RdP: He made sculptures too!

HVC: Yes he made sculptures, ceramics, why was he able to make all these? Ah, he divided his works by series!

RdP: You still maintain a very whimsical look in your work. It seems to be a strong trademark.

HVC: I love the word "Whimsical".

RdP: What does it mean for you?

HVC: For me, it means freedom. When I paint whimsical, it's like the brain, heart, and hand are one. When I do whimsical work, I am smiling. Based on my studies in art history, artists all have one thing they pursue: Happiness. Not Suffering. So every artist were wanting to pursue happiness. That's me too. I am pursuing happiness in my work. I don't want to limit my strokes when I paint. Do you know the feeling when you are forced to paint? It's too difficult!

I like the flow of lines, colors. There is freedom. And through whimsicality, and the whimsical work that I make, that's where I get freedom and happiness.

RdP: Is this state during the process of making the painting or when the painting is finished?

HVC: Oftentimes, I love the process, and I really love experimenting. I use the word experimenting even if I'm not a scientist. Because I like to experiment with mediums, different textures, different surfaces, materials, I like to play. So like that, it's the process. That's where I have fun. And as the painting process ends, I sometimes lose enthusiasm, I am sad that I am almost finished. But! When I am almost finished, I get excited because that means I get to start a new project again!

RdP: How do you deal with criticism?

HVC: You don't have to mind what people say. Even art critics, for me, it's their opinion. So that's on them. They're not the only ones in this world. And my work talks about the universe! My works are from my personal experiences, on what is the current affair. Like how some artists have a muse, my muse is the universe!

RdP: You seem to have a lot of energy to create all these. You say you get it from the Universe?

HVC: That's True. I'm not joking.

RdP: There are artists that lose inspiration, they get depressed and stop creating.

HVC: It's okay, it's okay to be lost, but be sure to be found. Ang idea is that we all have a downtime. Sometimes, I am also lost. My mind can be flooded with ideas flying and walking about! Do you know what I do? Meditation bai.

RdP: Meditation clears your mind.

HVC: Meditation is good. It's okay to be lost sometimes, just don't let it get the best of you. Family can help you, I think they're the closest people that can understand you. They can uplift you, even if you have no inspiration. There are many ways to get inspired, not necessarily that you lose yourself. But meditation is really important for me.

RdP: You had a photograph having been plagiarized by someone that made it to national news. How do you feel about people that steal artwork  and claim it for themselves?

HVC: I feel sad. Sad for both sides. Especially for the artist that copies. Social media is such a small circle. The world is so small.  I pity the artist also. It's a very sad reality that this happens, we don't know, someone is stealing pics this very moment.  The Laughing boy project covered the idea of what is really authenticity. It's very easy to copy and paste, but it will never be as beautiful as the original. It's like getting a print of a painting.

RdP: It's interesting because it was originally a stolen art, but you turned the situation around and made it a large scale artist collaboration project!

HVC: My father has a story. If you are a good fruit bearing tree, people will throw stones at you. I should just give out the fruits first before they start throwing stones at me. If you have gifts to create, just keep creating, and always pursue things that will make you happy. I think all of us really wants to pursue happiness not suffering. What makes you happy, and what feels right, then do it. The only person that will know is yourself. You only have one life in this planet.

RdP and HVC

RdP: What is happiness for you?

HVC: This is a poetic response. Happiness for me is when I can sleep well at night, and wake up the next day breathing fresh air. Waking up with no troubles in my head. I achieve that by creating art. My works, my mission and objectives with my work. I dwell into the light and into positivity. I want to share the light. Other artists share a different kind of light, maybe another side of art, but mine, I really love it. That's why I love using yellow, orange, warm colors. For now. But art will keep evolving.

I'm the kind of person that can find inspiration in the smallest thing in any corner of the world. Like a rusty gate "hey nice rust" or spit on the road "a creature!".

You can check his online porfolio at
http://hersleycasero.com/