REFLECTIONS 6
JEFFREY SOMERA
Buklod
acrylic on canvas
Masarap mabuhay sa mundong likha mo ang kulay, nangangarap ka ng matayog ng may kaagapay, magkabigkis naway wala ng humpay sa pagsulong moy akay-akay patungo sa tagumpay, saksi ang daigdig sa tinahak mong landas na naging makulay.
BONI DE GUZMAN
Kayod Para sa Pangarap
acrylic and ballpoint on canvas
Kahit gaano kahirap, ilang beses mabigo at kahit hindi mabilang ang mga dumating na pagsubok sa buhay tuloy parin ang laban sa buhay para maabot ang aking pangarap. Araw at gabi walang tigil sa pagkayod, dugo at pawis ang ilalaan para sa mahal na pamilya. Walang makakahadlang lahat sasagupain kayod lang ng kayod para sa pangarap sa pamilya.
NICK NAVARRO
Bilang
acrylic and calcium carbonate on canvas
Mula sa temang Self-portrait- Reflection on the role of Art dito ay nagmula ang konsepto ng Self extension kung saan ay ang pagrepresenta ng sarili bilang kaisa sa nakararami o paglalagay ng iyong sarili sa sitwasyon na hindi mo naranasan ngunit nararamdaman. Dito ay nakapaloob ang kasalukuyang problema ng bansa ngayong may pandemya, ang mga ito ay usapin ng kalusugan, pulitikal at etikal na aspeto. Ang titulong “Bilang” ay laro sa salita na maaring maghudyat ng maraming ibig sabihin na naglalarawan sa kabuoang mensahe ng imahe.
MARK LESTER ESPINA
The World I Know
oil on canvas
A visual representation of myself as an artist, in a dreamlike realm of imagination where everything is surrounded by surreal ideas
JESSA BALAG
Still Life
oil on canvas
It is our nature to capture memories that has brought special meaning to ourlives or contributed a very positive turning point and milestones. We hold on to these memories by keeping tokens that allow us to relive the moments. Memories have different layers so we associate the smell of the occassion, the nearby sounds, places, and what time of day was it so when we try to tap back to these joyful moments, it's like we experience them again.
Memories are what built who we are, what kind of values we hold on to and what we use to influence the younger generation. With fresh minds and perspective, they will have their own choosing what memories they want to create and how they want to impact the community; the world they live in. During these times of technological advancements, our generation have become digital immigrants. While the younger generation are digital natives. We try to transcend all the positive attributes of our past by integrating activities, games, and habits to intervene with their focus on gadgets. What helped mould us into high functioning adults, we also do our best to include in raising them. Mental pictures, the lingering voice of our grandparents teachings, old dresser cabinets, makeshift toy telephones, and woven sleeping mats reminiscent of our remote past is what makes us feel at least connected to this seemingly forgotten world.
ROMMEL JOSON
Imagineer
oil on canvas
Art not only mirrors the world as it is, but what it could be.
JERICHO MORAL
The Infinite Mirror
acrylic on wood
Before we start looking outward into the world, we need to see ourselves to sort out our truths and lies.
INA JARDIOLIN
Face in the Phase of the Apocalypse
acrylic and trash on canvas
To say art is to spread messages and start conversations is idealistic. It’s an admirable way of thinking, but this is the way artists and people within art circles think. One’s own perception is not enough. The truth comes from the full picture. But what does art do for the everyone else outside the circle of the arts?
To most people in its most successful forms art brings inspiration, beauty and/or happiness. In recent times cheap and efficient means of production reign. Sky scrapers and beige boxes are efficient buildings, but the human brain wasn’t made for boxes and monotony. Studies show these bland surrounding make people unhappy while aesthetics pleasing surroundings have positive effects not just on mood but wellness and cognitive function. In another study people in a well decorated hospital wing healed 2 days faster than the ones an ugly one.
People are bombarded with bad news: climate change, political unrest, crime, etc. Now there is a pandemic. In the midst of the quarantine people have thrown their time in to movies, theater, and invested in making their homes more beautiful and lush with plants because people need their spaces to be comforting. In these uncertain times people want to be distracted and comforted.
Where does art’s purpose lie? To say that there is only one way to create comforting and beautiful art is like saying there is only one universally good flavor of ice cream in the world. What is comforting to one person could be unsettling to the next. Some people find beauty in death, others in the intellectual, others in muted colors.
Art and artists are both mirrors and innovators. We take in the world around us and spit out a version if it through filtered through our own lens. We put our art out in to the world to send a specific message, but the audience will always view it with their own lenses and make their own interpretations. To say art has a single purpose and a single successful way of being is an erroneous statement.
Art is as versatile as humans in their function, purpose, and looks and everyone is free to come up with their own definitions of what art is and can be.