Exhibition Title:
THE JOURNEY BY SERGIO BORJA
Date: MAY 11 to 23, 2023
Venue: FRATER GALLERY
Location: VICTORIAN ARTIST SOCIETY
EXHIBITION SUMMARY:
The Journey, by Sergio Borja, is my first solo exhibition and a reflection on my journey in Australia for the past few years. It represents happiness and sadness, things I enjoyed and felt happy with, and the suffering that struck me the most while away from family and friends during the Covid Pandemic.
In honour of my late mother, Mercedes Borja, I have paid tribute to her with art pieces as she passed away two years ago. While she is not with us to see for herself, I know she would be so happy for me and be watching from above.
The creations for this exhibition are exceptional and emotionally appealing, with great texture, detail, and vivid colours produced using the experimentation of brush strokes and materials that make a rich story through the artistic element of texture and surfaces. As an artist, this collection sincerely submerged me in its creation.
MY JOURNEY IN AUSTRALIA
INTRO:
Worldwide many people try to migrate to different countries for greener pastures and a better life, as there are a lot of struggles, ups and down for someone going through the process, and I, the artist Sergio Borja have just recently undergone this process.
I get fascinated with the most liveable country in the world, Australia, because of the environment and places that grow on me that I love the most. Finally, after seven years of living in Australia as an immigrant on a bridging visa, I became an Australian citizen in 2022. After receiving the news of my citizenship, I created an art exhibition showcasing parts of Australia's beauty and touching on my journey. With the great information, as a celebratory event, I decided to create pieces that showcase the beauty of Australia for my first-ever solo exhibition.
COLLECTION 1:
I AM A VICTORIAN
During my time here, I have painted renowned places, architectural buildings that are distinct and exciting, developed structures, heritage country areas and places in Victoria that are on my bucket list to visit.
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Title: Vividly Stunning: Brighton Beach
Size: 76.5x976.5x4cm
Date Finished: February 20, 2023
Medium: Mixed Media
The breathtaking scenery along the beach in Port Phillip Bay is charming, and the colourful cottages that line the foreshore never fail to amaze the thousands of tourists who take Instagram photos yearly. I share my experiences and photos with friends, family and loved ones, it’s the place's charm. It is always different and varies depending on the time of the year you visit. It will always be beautiful.
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Title: Timeless: Flinders Street Station
Size: 76.5x976.5x4cm
Date Finished: February 20, 2023
Medium: Mixed Media
It is old and dated, and its architecture's true beauty is the story lying in every detail of the building, one of the places I have many passed through many times and created great memories. This station is where I usually catch my train and tram, a great meeting place for friends and the starting point to tour my visitors around. It is always a busy area with a buzzing environment and a busy street.
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Title: Hear the Crowd: MCG
Size: 76.5x976.5x4cm
Date Finished: February 20, 2023
Medium: Mixed Media
This majestic arena became famous when the 1956 Olympics came to Melbourne, and now over the years, it has become one of the most iconic stadiums worldwide. On sporting event days, you can hear the stadium's buzz, the crowd's roar, and the fans screaming and cheering, and then on ANZAC Day, a crowd of 90,000 stands to obey the ode and pay their respects.
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Title: With a Capturing Eye: The Docklands
Size: 76.5x976.5x4cm
Date Finished: February 20, 2023
Medium: Mixed Media
Gloriously stunning during the night, these fascinating skyscrapers create an ambience with a picturesque view from afar and an excellent background of the Melbourne Eye.
COLLECTION 2:
A YEAR SEASON IN SYDNEY
INTRO:
Sydney is one of the most iconic destinations in the world. With the incredible scenery of the harbour and the magnetic structure of the Opera house, a yearly season of festivities, weather and celebrations never fail to amaze locals and tourists.
This collection portrays the artist's imagination of Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer with the addition of the New Year's Eve fireworks display.
The thick texture and embossing details highlight the landscape's structural elements splashed with colours representing each season.
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Title: NYE (NEW YEAR’S EVE) 2022 BEYOND COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: January 5, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The New Year's Eve fireworks are one of the much-awaited events in Sydney; these grand fireworks display amazes visitors to the harbour every year. With the tail end of the pandemic, people were expecting less, the city was expecting lesser crowds, and people worldwide were not expecting grand fireworks display as seen in previous years.
Despite the pandemic, people unstoppably travelled to Sydney to see the live visual beauty of the fireworks. Sydney presented fantastic fireworks display as grand as the previous years, with the night sky lit up with pops of colour and an exceptional light display, sometimes hidden by the smoke in the air.
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Title: SUMMER UNDER THE SUN IN SYDNEY Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: February 19, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The scorching summer heat is the season that most people love. The sun reflecting off the water lightens up the harbour's scenery so serene, and the sun's reflection glistens at the surface of the port, uplifting the beauty of the surroundings. The beaches are busy with locals, tourists, and travellers. Cafes and bars along the streets are busy serving refreshments to quench the thirst on those hot summer days.
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Title: ROMANCE IN SYDNEY IN AUTUMN
Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: April 19, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Autumn is the season with a romantic ambience and scenery, with a slight hint of chill in the surroundings, while enjoying a glass of champagne at the park with nibbles to complete the alluring show of the sundown.
The view from the harbour is captivating, and the city looks like it is on fire with the colours of lust and love that make autumn exciting. I enjoy the colours that complement the surroundings; with a change of colour, the plants and trees mimic the beautiful colour of the sunset.
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Title: A COLD WINTER BREEZE IN SYDNEY
Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: July 19, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
A foggy atmosphere on the landscape of the harbour provides an aura of mystery. Very calm surroundings appear in winter; short days emerge as the weather and surroundings seem gloomy. A lovely winter catch-up with family and friends is likely to have a nice dinner at home or just to be rugged up and relax over a hot chocolate or coffee while watching your favourite movie series.
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Title: THE FRESHNESS OF THE SPRING BREEZE IN SYDNEY
Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: January 19, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Flowers are blooming, bees are pollinating, and the freshness and scent in the air help calm our senses. What an incredible scenery of the place during the spring overlooking the scenery of the grand harbour view.
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Title: THE AMAZING FIREWORKS OF SYDNEY 2023
Size: 91.5x91.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: January 5, 2023
Medium: Mixed Media
Another year and another Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks display never fails to amaze the residents and tourists worldwide. The stunning fireworks last for only 15 minutes. Still, they will last a lifetime of memories for those who shared the fantastic event watching at the site or via television or social media.
COLLECTION 3:
FINDING HAPPINESS
INTRO:
We all lose our loved ones at some point in our life. I know you all understand my pain and heartache during this period. With this, I tried to put myself back and run to be my true self, which is a complex process. Every single and straightforward detail around me makes me feel emotional. But I know she's with me in every corner and place I go. I look for happiness in every life, peace, quietness, and light that uplift my soul. To remind me that she's leading me to wherever happiness and success I need to be.
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Title: Life flows from Up High
Size: 92x123x5cm
Date Finished: November 20, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The sound and the beauty of the waterfalls rejuvenate my individuality.
The calmness of the landscape and the flowing water reminds me that even if you are not here, I should never stop and continue to succeed.
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Title: Rainbow Reflection
Size: 102x102x5cm
Date Finished: November 20,2022
Medium: Mixed Media
I saw a reflection of the rainbow while sitting and reflecting along the shore. It uplifts my spirit knowing that somewhere out there, you’ll be waiting and that one day, we will be together again to feel your warm embrace.
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Title: A Great Sunset
Size: 91x91x5cm
Date Finished: November 20, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The sunset that glistens on the surface makes it feel so magical. So magical that I dream, and I pray that every time this golden hour happens, the glare of the brightness from above that touches my face skin is your kiss that always makes me feel special.
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Title: Alps and Sky
Size: 61x91.5x5cm
Date Finished: November 20,2022
Medium: Mixed Media
A serene beauty to see the landscape of the Alps and the Sky. Even on the weakest path, I will continue to strive to reach the top of the clear blue sky.
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Title: The Rolling Hills
Size: 61x91.5x5cm
Date Finished: November 20, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Breathless of the view and the calmness of the wind that blew made me seize the moment to reflect on the moment with you.
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Title: Distant Glow
Size: 61.5x61.5x5cm
Date Finished: November 20, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The glow of the sunset brought twilight that coloured the great mountains and sky vividly. The presence that naturally radiates and brings out the best beauty around thee made me think of you honestly.
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Title: The Road to Nowhere
Size: 61.5x61.5x5cm
Date Finished: November 20,2022
Medium: Mixed Media
It doesn’t matter where you are. For you, I will keep rolling under the stars.
COLLECTION 4:
WITH HER
INTRO:
Life has many surprises, and one of my biggest surprises was when I woke up and knew within myself that my mom had passed away. It’s been two years, and everything that happened is still so vivid. I’m still thinking and believing that this is all a dream. She is the epitome of beauty in her most simple way. So charming, refined, intense, energetic, calm, realistic, passionate, and compassionate. Above all, she had a vibrant personality that shone. I remember all these qualities, and they always reminded me of her.
And these are my memories of Her.
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Title: As Delicate As A Gentle Flower
Size: 76x101.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: November 16, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Her beauty and appearance cannot be compared to anyone as she is uniquely elegant with her simplicity and charm; you will be stunned.
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Title: As Free Spirit as the Wind
Size: 76x101.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: November 16, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Unstoppable with everything she desired. With her beating heart, her passion and vision are always as clear as the sky.
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Title: She Glows Like A Morning Sun
Size: 76x101.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: November 16, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
She’s a ray of sunshine and a soul of a morning star—someone to look up to for my highest aspiration in life.
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Title: Everlasting Beauty
Size: 76x101.5x4.5cm
Date Finished: November 16, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Embedded in my heart forever the kindness and love. Your presence is overflowing with so much greatness that my heart cannot stop absorbing the things I need to live up to and be proud of.
COLLECTION 5:
SHATTERED
INTRO:
With my mom’s passing, I encountered great sadness in my life. My life seemed gloomy, and my individuality shattered like broken glass. Emotions within me are piling up and bursting in pain. The tremendous effect within me is tormenting me with my existence.
A unique collection: every one of my emotions and feeling of loss went into every detail of these pieces. The rich texture and the stunningly graded colour represent the pain and suffering that I have gone through. The pain that is so severe with the wound is tattooed forever in my heart.
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Title: Stare of Longing
Size: 55x82x7cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
In my eyes, you can see the longing, and wishing you were here beside me and sharing
unforgettable memories.
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Title: A Silent Moment
Size:67x67x7cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Peace and quietness are all I need to figure out and put up my thoughts together to have a fresh start.
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Title: Disbelief
Size:66x81x5cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
I woke up in silence, thinking it was all a dream. I dream, believe, and wish it is still just a Dream.
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Title: Lift me UP
Size: 54x91x7cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
My presence is lost, but I am still here. I am trying to uplift myself to pursue the purpose you bestowed upon me.
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Title: Embrace my Soul
Size: 68x98x7cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022 Medium: Mixed Media
Your embrace will surely lift the pain in my heart and ease my longing. You are all I need to push and go through to reality.
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Title: Stare into Hope
Size: 73x104x7cm
Date Finished: September 18, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
My life is full of ups and down, but you are my greatest heartache. I hope that one day when I see you again, your smile will shine brightly on my face, and happiness will last forever together.
COLLECTION 6:
LONGING
INTRO:
Her presence makes me happy, and my heart aches whenever she strikes my mind. Without her existence, I am profoundly longing every day. I dream of her existence and contemplate what we had when she was still with me.
Some visions of figures and silhouettes remind me of her. Very unpredictable, simple, and crazy, but still, it just put a smile on my face. Now my desire for her is to be peacefully happy wherever she may be.
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Title: A Care for Love
Size: 76x102x3.8cm
Date Finished: October 28, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Love is always there for people around us that we care about. The gift of care, attention, affection, and love is our most precious gift to the people we care for.
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Title: Dance of Happiness
Size: 76x102x3.8cm
Date Finished: October 28, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
Dancing is like dreaming. Lifting my spirit and making things feel easy for a moment. But with you around me, I feel like dancing my life with excitement and happiness.
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Title: A Gentle Kiss
Size: 76x102x3.8cm
Date Finished: October 28, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
The sweetest gesture of you is that simple sweet, gentle kiss. A gesture that will keep me going in my most arduous dreams.
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Title: Hopes And Dreams
Size: 76x102x3.8cm
Date Finished: October 28, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
We share the same passion and aspirations. With you and because of you, I strive hard and stay grounded in achieving goals. For you are my reason.
COLLECTION 7:
SCULPTED SCULPTURES
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Title: Divine
Size: 45x29x77cm
Date Finished: November 8, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
She is as pure as the morning breeze radiates beauty and positivity that glows into her skin—the flow of her grace and individuality reflected from the contour of her body.
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Title: Hiding Emotions
Size: 56x51x84cm
Date Finished: November 9, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
I have flaws and can feel pain in the darkest moments. I hide emotions and feel crying in the rain as no one will notice how painful or struggle I have been through. I keep it all in silence for no one to burden as I can carry and eat it all as not burden anyone. For tomorrow the sun will still shine, and I will be grace again with happiness.
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Title: Angels Dream
Size: 57x49x97cm
Date Finished: November 10, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
I dreamed of you and am soulfully happy as I see you sparkle in my dream in all of your glory. Anything that I wish for, I am sure that you will be because I see you strive hard with great compassion and humanity.
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Title: Blossom with Grace
Size: 57x50x95cm
Date Finished: November 11, 2022
Medium: Mixed Media
She faced different stages in life, but her composure and grace carried her to blossom like a star. She is as elegant as a white flower, so pure and divine.
ARTIST'S COLLECTION :
THE PORTRAIT OF MY MOTHER
A piece was presented at this exhibition to honour her memories.
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Title: “Her Grace”
A Portrait of Mercedes Vda De Borja
Size: 71x99 cm
Date Finished: April 30, 2021
Medium: Oil Paint Melbourne, Australia
“Her Grace”
A Portrait of Mercedes Vda De Borja
She is a strong, passionate woman who devoted her love and life to raising her twelve kids as a single mom. Despite her struggle in life, she manages to stay strong for the sake of her family, which she treasures the most.
"A graceful Angel with a great smile.
With mystic wings to defend her loved ones." - Sergio JR Borja
She is a simple woman who rarely likes to dazzle up, but once dressed, the meaning of glamour and beauty is graced to her without hesitation.
She is a shy and very caring woman.
So selfless at its most.
She will adore you with a smile like a gem And embrace you with her heart of gold.
This painting is of the mother of the artist. A captured moment of the family's loving Mama. A portrait that she always wanted and finished a few days after she passed.
The artwork depicts the elegance and sophistication of a fine woman.
A graceful, strong woman that manages to exude the trait of a true Filipina. She always puts her feet on the ground despite any life circumstances.