THE SEA IS NOT A QUIET PLACE
JOAR SONGCUYA
January 8 — February 12 2022

Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea is pleased to present THE SEA IS NOT A QUIET PLACE, the third solo exhibition of Joar Songcuya at the Altro Mondo Creative Space (1159 Chino Roces Avenue, San Antonio Village, Makati City).

Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them. Self-taught artist Joar Songcuya continues his saga at sea with his exciting new works presented by Altro Mondo Creative Space and wonderfully curated by Ricky Francisco.

The current aesthetic dialogue of the artist with his increasing followers is an extension of Joar Songcuya’s first solo exhibit, entitled “The History of Water” successfully mounted last year in the same art gallery that was curated by Charlie Samuya Veric.

His new works are immersed in the crucible of modernism while also drawing on traditional and classical motifs to create his singular visual image. The works are modern versions of the aesthetic influences of William Turner, Van Gogh, Sisley and certainly not to a lesser degree, with that of the Greek, Iannis Tsarouchis, minus the latter’s erotic fantasies.

Obliquely, his subjects, Filipino seamen at work in large ships often appear in allegories. They express anxiety, longing as well as desire. Evidently, the works in review demonstrate a creative mind at work always looking for existential profundity. He aimed for truth, not just something pleasant, acceptable, entertaining or even macabre. That suffices to give his work a compelling edge over new artists of his generation for its candidness and social relevance.

Songcuya’s strength is in the way he has convincingly formulated a unique artistic language. His works establish their own symbolic universe, mixing personal memory, loss and desire, pointing to the negotiation and transgression of limits between art and the everyday experience at sea.

THE SEA IS NOT A QUIET PLACE will be on view at Altro Mondo Creative Space (1159 Chino Roces Avenue, San Antonio Village, Makati City) until February 12 2022. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Viewings are strictly by appointment. For inquiries, please contact us on Facebook (@altromondoart) or Instagram (@altromondoart). You can also message us via Viber or WhatsApp at 0917 888 7872.

Text and photos courtesy of Altro Mondo Creative Space.