There Are Cathedrals Everywhere For Those With Eyes To See

UG student Jaime Leynes Exhibition

Reception: April 7, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
April 7 - April 11, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Adam D. Kamil Gallery, UC San Diego

There Are Cathedrals Everywhere For Those With Eyes To See is a collection of works that seeks to explore culture, community, and the self. These works aim to explore and uplift the very intrinsic nature of existence and connectedness, through pieces which delve into explorations of a Filipino identity, a religious upbringing, subcultural affiliations, as well as friends and family. Primarily working through portraiture, the idea of the self and of culture is interrogated with a series of diptych self portraits examining these key ideas, the artist’s complexities embodied in this series of paintings, surrounded then by the concept of community, of portraits enlivening the community surrounding the self, and how one chooses to create and engage with it. The idea of depictions of the self against those of others, and the relationship between the two, is central to this idea.

The thought that within humanity, boundless beauty can be found, as the idea that for those who are looking, cathedrals may be found. Within this show, the artist invites viewers to witness the sacred within the everyday—the profound within the personal. Through portraiture, the interplay of self and community is not only explored but celebrated, revealing the ways identity is shaped by culture, history, and relationships. This collection serves as both a reflection and a dialogue, encouraging one to reconsider where to find meaning and connection in our own lives. In looking closely, we may discover that cathedrals are not just built, but lived, seen, and felt in the people and moments that surround us.