EL (Electronic Liturgies)
EL derives from names of God; i.e. Elohim, El Shaddai, or Israel.
Kemuel קְמוּאֵל is a Hebrew name for “raised by God” and was my childhood nickname since birth. Not only does this relate to the majority of Filipino-American cultural identities linked to biblical names, but it’s specific to my upbringing. I remember when family friends hosted Bible studies at their house, and all the kids would watch their Kuya’s (older brothers) play Starcraft.
This early memory marks a revelation. Video games, especially JRPGs, from the concept and narratives within them were at the core for my creative practice. There is, in fact, something about my childhood that’s present in the drawings and sculptures signifying a sense of gameplay. I expand on digital culture with multimedia works to ensure a type of world building dedicated to EL (Electronic Liturgies) as art making becomes a critical mode of knowledge production for global trading. EL imagines a world within the World characterized by technological influx bringing us back to our spiritual states. EL also doesn’t forget about our history and colonization.
I often take notice of technical devices and how they invite you as a user to engage with them. Similarly art provides the same interaction. You can unpack its layers: the good and bad of what it means to be human. Ultimately, I want to elevate this as a mode of encouragement. Through this walkthrough, you can experience a dreamscape. Clouds, fire, wind, rain, and a hero figure. Guided by the intensity of light and color, you can depict a space for contemplation. This is what I envision as virtuality.