Art Review – She Said

Qube Gallery celebrated Women’s Month with another art show this year. The exhibit was entitled “She Said” and showcased an all- female line up that included Kitty Taguchi, Jewelle Yeung, Golda King, Maxine Syjuco, Palmy Pe Tudtud, Gigi Ocampo and Yvonne Quisumbing.

Based on the style and the messages of the artworks, this show was a powerful exhibit created by independent women artists.

The works of Yvonne Quisumbing, despite the minimalistic style, was still impressive. Her symbols of combining flowers and horns gave a new effect on the viewer. Her white background then mixed with her intricate details on her main figures gave a mysterious balance that made you want to stay and linger at her artworks to the point of ignoring the rest of the show. Her works were beautiful but it was hiding something.

Golda King’s work also had its share of the mystery but it was presented in another way. By painting her figures in a semi impressionistic manner and blurring the faces, all kinds of wondering come to mind.

The covering or the blurring of faces in the world of imagery automatically makes you wonder of the faces behind the blur and this is the effect that Golda King’s artworks send. However, because the works are colorful, the works do not send a scandalous message. The colorful blurring of the faces gives more of a universal message. The artists’ life experiences wanted her to share something but by blurring the faces she is expressing that her experiences are not personal, any woman can experience it too.

Well so much for talking about mystery, Gigi Ocampo’s work has just kicked that one of the art show. Gigi Ocampo’s work is confrontational. It is in your face. Looking at her works, you get a feeling that you are going to lose this discussion. Her works show independence. You are scared of it but you have no choice but to admire her strength. You have no choice but to live with it.

Her works just did not kick the mystery away; she also has kicked machismo out of the art show as well.

Lastly, Jewelle Yeungs works are still a mesmerizer. This is the second time I have seen her works and they still give that similar effect on me. I do not want to understand her artworks, I just want to revel in its beauty.

The exhibit is held at the new venue of Qube Gallery which is located at Crossroads Banilad Cebu City and will run from March 20 to April 20, 2015.

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.