In âme, Ycoy Sitchon turns to painting as a way of exploring life reduced to its most essential qualities. The title, drawn from the French word for “soul,” signals the artist’s intent: to arrive at a form of visual expression that is quiet, distilled, and centered on serenity. Across the series, one finds a consistent pursuit of clarity, where color, form, and texture come together to create surfaces that speak of balance rather than excess, of composure rather than spectacle.

The paintings are built through two interrelated processes: the fluid sweep of pigment across the canvas and the sculptural layering of blossoms in impasto. Sitchon works with a palette of soft and luminous tones that set the stage for the floral forms to emerge. These blossoms, carefully modeled and raised from the surface, are not decorative flourishes but integral to the logic of the composition. They interrupt the continuity of the brushstrokes, grounding the movement of the background while offering points of focus. In this dialogue between flow and solidity, the works establish a rhythm that feels at once dynamic and measured.

What distinguishes âme is the way stillness is treated not as stasis, but as a condition of presence. The works invite the viewer to consider how peace is shaped: not through the absence of gesture, but through the discipline of repetition and the careful layering of form. The impasto flowers embody this persistence. Their density, achieved through deliberate accretion of paint, contrasts with the fluidity of the background, creating a balance that recalls the dual nature of serenity—active yet composed, enduring yet delicate.

Through this process, âme proposes a way of seeing art as a site where serenity can be made visible. The works are not only visual compositions but also material reflections on how peace may be sustained. In the interplay of color and form, in the alternation between gesture and weight, the paintings enact the very condition they seek to describe.

Ultimately, âme offers more than floral abstraction. It is an articulation of how painting can embody states of being, how pigment and surface can give form to what is often intangible. By paring down to essentials, Sitchon opens a space where the viewer can pause, reflect, and perhaps recognize serenity not as something distant but as a presence already within reach.

After graduating from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Economics, Sitchon embarked on a remarkable journey, traversing the worlds of international advertising and banking. Her tenure as a government securities trader and investment banker laid the groundwork for her exceptional leadership skills, which she later brought to La Belle Fête. During her stewardship, La Belle Fête rose to prominence, etching its name as one of the foremost event companies in the Philippines. But it was during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic that Sitchon’s resilience shone brightest. Demonstrating uncanny adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit, she founded three new enterprises, each uniquely tailored to meet the evolving demands of their clientele.

However, Sitchon’s true metamorphosis began when she exchanged the calculative precision of banking for the boundless realms of art. Her love affair with painting, rooted in childhood memories of her grandmother’s garden, blossomed into a distinctive style that merges abstraction with representation. Through her art, Sitchon creates a dialogue between viewer and canvas, using a blend of undefined lines, dramatic compositions, and a spectrum of colors that evoke both whimsy and profundity.

Her pieces are more than just visual delights; they are narratives of her journey. Each stroke ofher brush reflects a deep connection to her subjects, particularly flowers, which have been a constant motif in her life and work. Sitchon’s art is a testament to her belief in expression over impression, a principle that earned her a spot in Preview Magazine’s Top 25 Creatives. In every endeavor, Ycoy Sitchon stands as a beacon of inspiration, urging us to embrace our passions and flourish. Her story is not just one of success in the corporate and artistic worlds; it is a reminder of the transformative power of embracing one’s true calling.

“âme” by Ycoy Sitchon will be on view at Galerie Joaquin BGC from October 3 -12, 2025, with an Artist Reception on October 3, Friday, at 5 PM. The gallery is located on the Upper Ground Floor, One Bonifacio High Street Mall, 5th Ave. Corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries, contact +63 915 739 1549 or email galeriejoaquinbgc@gmail.com.