Artists work with both their hands and their brains, and this channeling is known in Tagalog as Pagdaloy or, more specifically, Pagdaloy ng Kaalaman.

Photos and Curated by Abe Orobia
December 22, 2023

Pagdaloy, or flow in likelihood, is a stream of creative outputs that differ in presentation yet align together through a synchrony of steady and controlled assertions by the artists to make it cohesive. These manifestations unify this exhibition, notwithstanding stylism and philosophical leanings. ‘Pagdaloy’ is composed of Pepe Mendoza, Judeo Hererra, Dante Enage, Mark Ronald Sioson, Diego, and yours truly. The group converges to depict each's own interpretations of the theme, which are symbols and materializations of different energies and life forces that serve as our muse.

Pepe Mendoza’s sculptures are exuberant and dynamic. His control of the glass reflects both his fiery and calm personality. Mendoza’s works are not only produced by manipulating the natural limitations of each glass piece but also by attributing them to his understanding of natural elements like air, fire, and wind.

Herrera’s mixture of painting and serigraph  is both contemplative and nostalgic in treatment and choice of subject. His pieces may reawaken memories of yesteryear while teaching  lessons about life. More importantly the wings which are a prominent motif in his optic-illusion pieces evokes the plight of the common people. In their own ways, they are resilient and victorious.

Diego and Sioson on the other hand vere towards the whimsical and the surreal. Their compositions are always intertwined with the natural and dream worlds. The use of layered resin in their pieces which magnifies depth and three dimensionality is a product of meticulous process and application. Patience is pagdaloy. It takes time.

Dante Enage favors rhythmic and diverse patterns echoing his musings in his hometown Tacloban City. It is both heavily urbanized and unpretentious.  It is a mix of modern and traditional tendencies that results in non-representational oeuvres when translated into visual form. To summarize, all creations, while separate and distinct, are interconnected.

Artists work with both their hands and their brains, and this channeling is known in Tagalog as Pagdaloy or, more specifically, Pagdaloy ng Kaalaman. Ideas emerge from a single creative stimulus and are finally laid out and tested to establish their point. This probing does not come out naturally, therefore anguish and consideration are an essential and critical part of it from beginning to end. Like a calming of a storm, the artists’ stride on it until a certain contentment and stability is achieved.  Essentially, pagdaloy cannot carry on without all the intangibles that are essential. The personal beatings, self-criticism, and comparative analysis are all part of it. Like waves and currents, constant calmness or rest is necessary in order to reach momentum. Fire is also necessary to meld a form. A sustained gentle breeze is needed to breathe life. Inadvertently, overflow takes its peak once it reaches a convergence point.