Textures and colors play huge roles in the aesthetic experience of a work of art and in conveying the meaning of the art piece. These elements among others guide the viewer to have a deeper understanding of the creation. For the month of May, focus is given to how the artists used these elements to make a statement or to simply make the viewer feel what is intended to be felt.

Written by Amanda Juico Dela Cruz
Photos provided by the galleries
May 22, 2023

Cian Dayrit, “The Austere Enclave”, Mono8 Gallery.

One work from the exhibition shows a banana tree with its roots underneath the soil exposed to the viewer. Around it is the phrase “MARKET AS ECOSYSTEM x LIFE AS COMMODITY” written using neon lights. Below it is a depiction of a plantation and flame-shaped neon lights on both sides. When these lights are switched on, the entire exhibition space turns into a burning scene as if there is a wildfire going on. The artist’s landscapes refract the reality of geography, politics, and economy under a system of consumption, exploitation, and exhaustion of resources as if there‘s still so much. (see more photos here)

Soler Santos, “Static Nature”, Blanc Gallery.

One would find many photographs of his family, artworks, and architecture in the artist’s camera roll, but one would also find more photographs of strangers, garbage piles, and ruins. He can be accused of having an eye for things that are about to die, subjects in their twilight hours. The works in the exhibition are collages of leafless trees, trunks, and roots almost covered in a pile of fallen leaves together with squares of textures and patterns that give a new experience. Parts of dead trees are put together to create sculptural works that give birth to something new. (see more photos here)

Nice Buenaventura, Karl Castro, Jon Cuyson, and Eric Ramos Guerrero, “Line of Sight”, Galleria Duemila.

The exhibition space is turned into the world of a seafarer with the walls painted with the palate of an industrial ship. Cuyson’s paintings use the colors of steel that is corroding in rust, breathing life to this non-living process of surviving time and use. Buenaventura turn the splatter of ink on photocopied materials into a cartography of island territories. Castro meditates on the process of consumption from the ripping sound of packagings being torn to the crumpling sound when discarded. Guerrero embraces disruption as part of ecology by placing rock performers in the middle of a lush, serene vegetation. (see more photos here)

Maria Taniguchi, “Figure Study”, Silverlens Galleries.

Meditative. Hundreds, thousands even, of rectangular units are arranged neatly in a row. Each unit measures two by six centimeters. The rows are arranged that follow the pattern of a brick wall. Ritualistic. With the canvas on the floor, the artist first applies a base coat usually of dark grey before carefully drawing her pattern using graphite. She then meticulously paints each brick unit with black acrylic paint. Like how it is done in construction work, she moves from one brick unit to the next resulting to large-scale paintings that can feel as if they are actual brick walls. Impenetrable. (see more photos here)

Mars Bugaoan, “Forever”, Artinformal.

Orange plastic pieces that resemble leaves are scattered on the floor of the exhibition space. The walls of this small room are painted with green, orange, and blue—colors found in the environment. The works on the walls blend with these vibrant hues allowing extension as much as contrast between the cubic room and these circular canvases. Discarded objects collected for years are presented on these canvases. Wires and plastic bottle caps are being given new life as found objects being exhibited in an art gallery. Other works include plastic on plastic toy house and rusting nails embedded in concrete. (see more photos here)

“Mother and Child: Reimagined and Recast by 40 Contemporary Artists”, Qube Gallery.

Figurative and abstract. Surrealist and pop. Sculptural and photographical. Artists in this group show refract their divergent interpretations, ideas, and experience of motherhood. Some works, for instance, go back to the essentialist view of motherhood, that is, of bearing a child and of child-rearing. Some works opt to confront the bloody reality of being the light of the home and the deep grief felt by mothers. Other works celebrate those who have chosen to be a mother to nonhumans. While some extend the concept to flora and fauna. Despite the differences, the show is a platform to honor such diversity. (see more photos here)

Artists included in the group show are: Alee Garibay, Alyssa Selanova, Andre Chan, Arlene Donaire, Belle Maurice, Boy Kiamko, Budoy Marabiles, Carmen Aranet, Ceasar Azanza, Christian Villanueva, Dani Yu, Distort Monsters, Dondi Joseph, Gabi Nazareno, Geovanni Abing, Golda King, Greys Lockheart, Hersley Casero, Ivy Marie Apa, Jan Sunday, Jan Michael Tauro, Jay Jore, Jean Govinda, Jeffrey Sisican, John Villoria, Jose Mari Picornell, Joseph Ong, Jun Escario, Jjawzip Ingking, Karina Broce, Kean Larrazabal, Les Amacio, Lhee Taneo, Mark Masa, Mijan Jumalon, Neil Carandang, Neil Felipp, Nicole Asares, OJ Hofer, RA Tijing, Red Genotiva, Ronyel Compra, Soika Vomiter, Thom Jopson, Uzi Emperado, and Xandro Romualdez.