The “Memento Vivere” exhibit ran from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10 at the R.W. and Joyce Witt Gallery. This exhibit featured a new series of modern and expressionist art from an alternate reality perspective, weighing heavily on human experiences.
Kristeen Jardeleza, a senior studio art major, creates art that features personal identity, human youth and the harsh reality of trauma and emotional endeavors to construct bold, expressive and eye-catching pieces.
Her artwork places a heavy emphasis on the composition and balance of life and death, incorporating multimedia materials such as paint, ribbon and canvases, which evoke the audience’s curiosity and invite different avenues for interpretation.
“All of my work is personal. Everybody who was coming to the show was going to think a lot of it,” Jardeleza said. “The main question that I want to bring to people’s attention is – ‘what constitutes a life worth living?’ – which changes depending on who you are as a person and the experiences as well.”
The R.W. Witt Gallery, formally known as Kadema Hall, has invited students to display and host their own independently run art shows and reception gatherings since 1962. It has served as a creative space for artists to express themselves through their work, specifically for student artists trying to get their work publicly displayed and recognized.
Jardeleza’s work served a powerful purpose for the students at Sacramento State, which was to remind them that to live is to die, but to die is to have truly lived a life worth remembering. Although it’s a heavy reality to face, this reminder offered the audience a chance to reflect and slow down while living in the moment, cherishing every second.
“I wanted to touch on the subject of self-identity,” Jardeleza said. “A lot of my past work has focused on the cycle of life and death. I have been trying to go through and see how that relates to me and my identity and how the experiences in my life have shaped who I am now.”
Jardeleza’s work emphasizes self-expression, personal identity, and the unknown aspects of being human, where her usage of striking backgrounds, sharp main focus on skeletal figures and bold usage of moody colors highlight the deeper emphasis of mortality. She invited viewers to form a personal self-reflection on life through her lively subject matter and diverse emotional representations.
Ulysses Ponce Gutierrez, a close friend of Jardeleza and the exhibit’s tour guide, helped organize the display. Gutierrez greeted students and directed them through the gallery for a curated artistic experience, making his own personal connection with her art.
“I would describe her work as vulnerable and well executed,” Gutierrez said. “I’d also say her artwork is critical, like a guide through a story; it tells the narrative of someone who’s had to live with and is navigating the pressures of being raised by religion, especially as a woman.”
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He also mentioned how important it is for artists to make their artwork feel relatable to others and how to portray a genuine representation of what being an artist truly is.
“There is merit in allowing your work to be personal. It’s very easy as an artist to stay safe and stay in your shell,” Gutierrez said. “By pushing oneself to lay down your more vulnerable emotions and feelings and do your work, we allow the painting to be a more genuine reflection of who we are on the inside as an individual.”
Logan Greene, a senior graphic design major, shared his reflections on experiencing Jardeleza’s artwork.
“This collection feels heavy. At first, you’re overwhelmed with the duality of life and death, but you are met with a beauty that pulls you in,” Greene said. “Each piece explores another angle of this complexity called life. This collection makes me feel caught between wonder and dread. There’s a strange beauty in that conflict, a strange serenity.”
The next exhibit in the R.W. Witt Gallery will feature recent works by student artist Essence Bacon from Oct. 14 through Oct.17. An artist reception for the gallery will occur the evening of Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.
