Fil Am Artist popularizes “Smile Project”

Saturday, 06 March 2010 14:29 Sierra Mae Paraan

Some of Bren Bataclan's colorful characters (above); the artist's gallery (below)

Fil-Am artist Bren Bataclan is bent on a mission – making people smile with one artwork at a time. The Boston-based artist creates colorful paintings with cheerful vibrant caricatures and leaves them in public, free for anyone who wants them to take. He has left thousands of paintings in half the states in the US and in 35 other countries – including the Philippines.

"The economy is so bad now. People are losing their jobs, so this is how I can help," said Bataclan, 40, whose philosophy of doing a good deed includes bringing art to gallery outsiders, without the need to deface any properties.

Born in the Philippines, Bataclan was raised in San Francisco before attending UCLA as a design major. He then worked in the special effects industry in Hollywood for a time before attending graduate school in the Ohio State University. Bataclan also joined the dot com bloom in the 90s, but when the industry crashed, he lost his job and started picking up the paint brush.

"I was so happy for the support I got and I wanted to thank Boston," Bataclan told Asian Journal. This is when he thought of giving away his paintings for free. He then left his cheery acrylic paintings in parks, benches, libraries, train stations, street corners, and before long, his "Smile Project" has spread around the world. Bataclan's goal is to give away paintings in every state in the US and every country in the world.

In 2007, the artist left paintings in front of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Rizal Park. Amused by the local culture, Bataclan admired how Filipinos can still smile despite dire times.

In an interview for GMAnews.tv, he revealed, “I will retire here in the Philippines. I love the way people are close to their family, laughing out loud, [and] the [bright] colors."

Bataclan works as a full-time artist and owns a Cambridge studio where his paintings are sold at prices ranging from USD95 (P4,365.25) to USD400 (P18,380). Giving them away for free, however, is what he considers his real occupation.

Proceeds from the sale his newest series, which depicts recent floods in the Philippines, will go to flood victims and Haiti earthquake survivors.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites