The Child Within III, 2026

Cristiano Felismina  

In The Child Within III, Cristiano Felismina continues his exploration of emotional memory through one of the most vulnerable subjects in his oeuvre: childhood. Part of the series presented within the exhibition, this painting examines the invisible scars carried from childhood into adult life, transforming personal pain into a universal reflection on resilience, identity and survival.

A young child confronts the viewer with an unwavering gaze. Half of the face remains untouched, while the other is engulfed by deep crimson pigments that evoke blood without ever depicting literal violence. Throughout Felismina's work, red functions not merely as colour but as a psychological presence—representing trauma, vulnerability, sacrifice, memory and transformation rather than physical injury.

The composition is remarkably restrained. A muted green background isolates the figure from any identifiable place or time, directing all attention to the emotional dialogue created by the child's expression. The absence of narrative allows the viewer to project personal memories and experiences onto the image, making the painting simultaneously intimate and universal.

Rejecting photographic hyperrealism, Felismina employs what he describes as the "illusion of detail": visible brushwork, soft atmospheric transitions and carefully orchestrated light create an image that feels profoundly alive without relying on mechanical precision. The painting exists between realism and psychological symbolism, where every nuance of skin, shadow and colour serves emotional meaning rather than technical display.

Like the broader exhibition, The Child Within III speaks about the silence that follows emotional wounds rather than the moment of violence itself. It is not a portrait of suffering, but of endurance—the quiet strength of those who continue carrying invisible scars.

Cristiano Felismina's work has rapidly gained recognition through numerous international figurative painting competitions, including MEAM Figurativas, ModPortrait, the Francisco de Zurbarán Prize, and the Abel Manta Painting Prize, where he received an Honourable Mention. His paintings combine exceptional technical mastery with profound psychological depth, establishing him as one of Portugal's most compelling contemporary figurative painters.