Revaleka

Memento is Revaleka’s debut work and self-titled album that delves into the profound complexities of memory and familial relationships, marking the starting point of his exploration into nostalgia as a central concept. Through his works, Revaleka invites the audience to embark on an emotional journey laden with memories, conflicts, and efforts toward reconciliation. Rooted in his personal experiences, this album reflects the dynamics of parent-child relationships within a cultural framework that often prioritizes harmony between familial expectations and individual aspirations.

This album was born from deep reflections triggered by his participation in an open call with the theme “His Shoulder” by an art exhibition institution in India. The theme rekindled memories of Revaleka’s relationship with his parents, a relationship colored by differences in perspectives, expectations, and ambivalent feelings. Throughout this process, he revisited old family photo albums that had long been stored away, rediscovering moments of happiness that had been forgotten. From that journey, Memento emerged as an artistic effort to reconstruct memories, confront trauma, and create a new space for reconciliation.

Though it stems from a personal story, the work embraces universality: identity, the search for self, and the complex relationship between the past and the present. In a cultural context that often imposes expectations and rigid standards, Memento becomes a voice representing the individual struggle to carve his own path. Through these works, Revaleka invites viewers to reflect on their relationships with the past and how memory shapes their identity.

Memento was built conceptually, adopting an approach inspired by analog photography to create a warm yet melancholic nostalgic atmosphere. This album represents a significant artistic evolution in Revaleka’s search for a visual identity that transcends the conventions of Old Masters’ techniques, which he had mastered during his years in the painting.

The scarlet umber color, which he developed as a metaphor providing a vibrant foundation that radiates personal depth, becomes a visual hallmark born from extensive experimentation with underpainting in the Old Masters’ techniques. This is paired with impressionistic blocking techniques to construct layers of color and subtle flash lighting effects. The figures in this album are portrayed with blurred faces, creating interpretive spaces that allow viewers to project their own memories. These faceless figures symbolize the fluidity of memory how recollections are inherently ambiguous, ever-changing, and fragmented.

In its execution, the album arranges compositions that emphasize simplicity while delivering a strong narrative. The figures are placed within familiar domestic settings, reminiscent of everyday moments that offer multi-layered personal and collective interpretations. In one of his works, “Ontbijkoek,” which depicts an elderly woman in a kitchen, it evokes resonances among viewers who associate it with memories of their own grandmothers, simple moments laden with nostalgic value.

Through Memento, Revaleka creates a dialogue between the individual and the collective experience. The nostalgic atmosphere presented feels as though it transports us back in time, provoking deep reflections on how memory shapes our identity—to face trauma, immerse in nostalgia, and ultimately find a path toward reconciliation. The works in this album serve not only as a reflection of the past but also as a space to project new understandings and better hopes for the future.