Art Review: A Southern Exposures Series: EXISTENCE

EXISTENCE: A Southern Exposure Series is an exhibit at Qube Gallery composed of artists from Iligan City’s TINTA and Cagayan De Oro’s Memento Group. As expected from group exhibits, the show presents a lot of variety that various art lovers will find something they like or can relate to.

Two of the works I like in the exhibit are the works of Maila Secuban. Their titles are from names of Greek gods “Apollonian” and “Dionysian”. The works are both sized at 122 x 91.5 cm. The medium is oil on canvas.

The two works are good realist paintings that involve bubbles. The two paintings invoke our memories of fun. This is because we always associate bubbles with fun. “Dionysian”, though is more childlike of the two while “Apollonian”, still being playful but more serious and even seductive.

Another two works from a single artist that I also find to my liking are the works of Richard Bolotaolo. His works are all in oil on canvas and measured at 122 by 91.5cm. The works are titled “ Spiritual Battle (Baptism of Fire 2)” and Spiritual Wisdom (Baptism of Fire 3). The colors of the work truly fit the title. The painting is indeed fiery. Thank God, the topic is a good kind of fire, the “baptism” type and not the “getting burned in a house” type.

The artworks are also done professionally and meticulously. The strokes, the imagery, the symbolism is something very recommendable. It is impressive work indeed.

Renz Altubar’s “Naked Truth”, also stands out of the exhibit. Done in a monochromatic fashion, the message of the work is clear. This work gives a vibe of hopelessness. I know there is a dove in the painting but the black colors and the number of hands covering the body drown out the dove figure.

“Naked Truth”, is measured again at 122 by 91.5 cm. The medium is urethane on canvas. The work is scary but because it is done in a very skilled manner the work is still presentable and professional.

Last work I like in the exhibit is Cris Gomez’s “Common Ground”. It has the same measurements as the previous paintings mentioned above. The work is a good combination of colors, of mystery and figures.

It even reminds me of a person having skin problems but the acne or allergy he is trying to cure just has a different color.

All in all, the exhibit updates us with what is going with the other regions through their art. It also shows us again and again, though we are far from each other we are united with our struggles. Such struggle make us united yet also makes the Filipino artist unique and creative.

About the author: N.M. CABANGBANG graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Painting at University of the Philippines Cebu. He is now currently teaching grade 6 – 10 Art at B.R.I.G.H.T. Academy. He also plays the bass and sings for the band – PALTIK.