Art Review: Mirage

Mirage was a league front runner series art exhibit that was brought to us all Qube Gallery. The exhibit ran from December 4 to 18 2014, and was the gallery’s last art show this year.

The show boasted of a remarkable collection of artists such as Red Mansueto, Raul Isidro, JV Villacin, Roli Manlulu, Randy Ordonez, Florence Cinco, Maxine Syjuco, Dennis “Sio” Montera, Jeanmarie Syjuco and Edwin Jumalon.

I was still lucky to catch the exhibit on its last days and I did not regret doing that as I was able to see a lot of impressive artworks. One of these is Edwin Jumalon’s, “Line in the Horizon”.

What made, “Line in the Horizon”, different among the other works is that it had a message to the audience. The artwork with its gas masked covered characters was telling us of the pollution of our surroundings whether it comes from the environment or even the people around us. The graphing lines also made the work ominous, like the message was happening now and not in the far away future.

The time may really come in handy when we will all be wearing gas masks normally, if that happens, then Edwin Jumalon’s message next time may be – “I told you so”.

Among the abstract works that got my attention was the works of JV Villacin entitled, “Seeing Through 1” and “Seeing Through 2”. This was the first time I saw the works of Villacin since he has shifted his style to abstract.

Though I still like his old sculptural and tribal type of artworks before, his abstract works still express the mastery of Villacin. The concept of putting white over  white and then subliminally inserting red lines, geometrical shapes and even an eye makes his works unique.

Mixing all these ingredients gives his works that mysterious and playful effect. He is telling us a message through his abstract works but at the same time teases us. Trying to show some, trying to hide some just like a rated R movie. The artist can’t give it all the way.

Whatever that message is we can only guess as we try to rock our minds about it. This mystery, this guessing game makes the works of Villacin effective and gives off a lasting effect to the viewers.

The league front runner series art exhibit entitled Mirage was one of the successful and highly publicized art shows this year. It was uniquely remarkable because the artist included in it were all home grown, so to all the artists of the exhibit and to Qube Gallery, congratulations again for another successful show.

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.