Empty Scholar, in collaboration with Modeka Art, presents “The Wild Garden Of Childhood,” an exhibition featuring Carzen Arpa Esprela, Celline Mercado, Chalk Zaldivar, Ian Anderson, Kim Borja, and Miguel Puyat.

Text and images courtesy of Modeka Creative Space
February 21, 2023

Empty Scholar, in collaboration with Modeka Art, presents “The Wild Garden Of Childhood,” an exhibition featuring Carzen Arpa Esprela, Celline Mercado, Chalk Zaldivar, Ian Anderson, Kim Borja, and Miguel Puyat. The exhibition will open on February 24, 2023 Friday at 6:00 in the evening. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will be going to the Virlanie Foundation.

“Everything is ceremony in the wild garden of childhood.” - Pablo Neruda

In the wild garden of childhood, life is brief yet the possibilities are endless. In a single crayon scribble, a sideways smile, an old camera, a fragrant perfume, or even a delicious bowl of soup, one finds themselves whisked away to a distant place.

In this faraway land, colors are brighter, the grass is softer, and the air—as crisp as morning day. Joy lives inside of the smallest moments in this kaleidoscope world. With wide eyes and flailing arms, one’s hands feel the earth without a care in sight.

Childhood is a moment, a place, and a feeling.

When a small piece of candy is enough to delight us; when any worry is instantly cured by a warm hug; and when leaps of imagination ignite one’s days.

Childhood is nowhere to be seen, yet is somewhere and everywhere all at once. Found in the keepsakes that resonate with us the most, we can learn to live like a child again—to see, feel, and experience wonder all over again.

Through art, we strive for a certain sharpness of memory. Favoring concrete details for a wistful escape to the past, art becomes a fountain of youth for the present.

This exhibition serves as a meditative space demonstrating the transformative power of an artwork to absorb its viewer. Through every piece, the artists project the memories they reproduce.

Concept: A Token From The Wild Garden

To complement their works, every artist will display a memento that brings them to a specific moment and memory–a sentimental keepsake that helps viewers relive their experience. Brought in the form of a scent, a sound, an object, or a dish, it focuses on one of the five senses: touching, hearing, seeing, smelling, or tasting.

About the Artists

Carzen Arpa Esprela

Carzen Esprela((b. South Cotabato, PH, 1994) graduated from the University of the Philippine Diliman in 2016. His work “Bag in a Boat” has been featured in various public spaces and art exhibitions such as at Tin-aw Art Gallery, Art in the Park, UP Fine Arts grounds, and the UP Vargas Museum.

His works study the intricacies of memory and remembering, especially focused on the people and places that have made an impact on his life. His first solo exhibition titled, “Hinumdom,” which means “to look back” in the Visayan vernacular was held in 2020 at the Pinto Art Museum with the support of Tin-aw Art Management.

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Modeka_Carzen Arpa Esprela_Tabi-Tabi Po_Acrylic on Canvas_20 x 15 inches_2022.png

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Carzen Arpa Esprela “Barrio Dos”, Acrylic on Canvas, 6 x 9 ft., 2019; “Dwellers”, Acrylic on Canvas, 4 x 6 ft., 2022; “First D'love”, Acrylic on Canvas, 8.8 x 6.2 ft., 2022; “Settlers”, Acrylic on Canvas, 4 x 6 ft., 2022; “The Big House”, Acrylic on Canvas, 6 x 8 ft., 2019; “Eve”, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 36 inches, 2021; “Losts”, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 15 inches, 2022; “Tabi-Tabi Po”, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 15 inches, 2022; “Tumawo Series no.1”, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 34 inches, 2022; “Urban Souls”, Acrylic on Canvas, 33 x 40 inches, 2022

Celline Mercado

Celline Mercado (b. 1997, Pampanga, Philippines) is a Filipina visual artist who explores themes of memory, identity, and mental illness. Her art practice spans a variety of media, from graphite and digital drawings to craft-based sculptural pieces. She has exhibited and published works in Manila, San Francisco, and Melbourne. Aside from her art practice, she has worked as a curatorial researcher, illustrator, and graphic designer.

She holds BFAs in Information Design and Art Management from the Ateneo de Manila University. Currently based in Australia, she is pursuing a Master of Fine Art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Chalk Zaldivar

Chalk Zaldivar presents a satirical take on social and political issues using exaggerated imagery and humorous text. He developed a distinct, recognizable visual language that makes light out of dark situations. His long tongue-in-cheek titles are part of his works, a technique he uses to tell a dark comedic story and make it his own.

His themes critique our non-confrontational society, advocating the practice of release and admittance of tension, rather than internalization for the sake of political correctness. At first glance, his paintings and drawings appear playful and lighthearted, with pop and pastel color palettes and cartoon-like images. Upon closer inspection, unsettling details emerge. Art is Zaldivar’s outlet for humor, and despite the forbidden territories he navigates, his perspective is not to be taken too seriously.

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Modern Heroes; Santo Ninyo

Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson debuted with a mural commissioned by Cartoon Network in 2016 at their headquarters in Burbank, California. The piece was in the form of a six floor hand-painted maze, complete with an inherent “start to finish” solution. This was followed up with a solo exhibition at the same studio that solidified the launch of Ian’s career as an artist.

In 2017, Ian Anderson began his international ventures to develop a clientele outside the United States. To start, he had a solo exhibition in Tokyo which incorporated performance art and shibari into his work.

In 2018, he had his first show in the Philippines where he is now based. The group show at Leon Gallery International featured Ian’s “In the Near Distance” collection. In 2022, he exhibited at Leon Gallery International with a solo show.

Today, Anderson’s regular clients are collectors in North America, Europe, and Asia.

The works of Ian Anderson are characterized as meticulous and extremely labor intensive hand-drawn art on two or three-dimensional objects. It mixes the abstract and the figurative, weaving characters and text to create distinct visual narratives. Puzzles, mazes, games, and whimsical figures are playfully integrated into the themes.

Kim Borja

Drawing viewers with her inverted and luminescent palette, emerging artist Kim Borja (b. 1999) infuses elements from children's stories, with wide-eyed characters expressing melancholy and grief. Borja's works have been part of various exhibitions and art festivals across the country.

Miguel Puyat

Miguel Puyat (b. 1993, Philippines) is an interdisciplinary artist who works with installations, sculptures, drawings, textile, and new media. Puyat explores a range of narratives that hint at existentialism, nostalgia, and subcultures as he examines the transformation, improvisation, and re-configuration of materials, sound, and images.

Since 2011, he has exhibited extensively in different art spaces and galleries in Manila. Puyat studied Fine Arts (Painting) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman and received an artist residency from Light and Space Contemporary through their LSC-AIR program in 2013.

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Modeka_Miguel Puyat_Gentle On My Tired Eyes_Found wood, light bulb and socket, light switch, plastic paint can, nuts and bolts_18 x 10 x 12 inches_2020.png

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Modeka_Miguel Puyat_Dappled Sunlight (through the collages)_found glass, found wood, cardboard cutouts, nuts and bolts_2020.png

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Modeka_Miguel Puyat_Tools Holder_empty cans, nuts and bolts_9.5 x 20.5 x 14_2019.png

Miguel Puyat “Portable Collage Maker”, found wood, found cardboard cutouts, nuts and bolts, 4.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches, 2020; “Gentle On My Tired Eyes”, found wood, light bulb and socket, light switch, plastic paint can, nuts and bolts, 18 x 10 x 12 inches, 2020; “Eventually”, painted shaped wood, wooden dowells, 43" diameter, 2021; “Where These Flowers Bloom (1)”, painted found wood, found cardboard cutouts, nuts and bolts, 2020; “Dappled Sunlight (through the collages)”, found glass, found wood, cardboard cutouts, nuts and bolts, 2020; “7-day collage” acetate, found cardboard cutouts, found wood, 2020; “Tools Holder”, empty cans, nuts and bolts, 9.5 x 20.5 x 14, 2019

About Empty Scholar

In a constant pursuit of knowledge and burgeoning talent, Empty Scholar hopes to introduce new voices to the realm of art with an artist-first philosophy in mind. As an alternative art space, we work with other galleries in the hopes of strengthening local communities and offering impactful experiences.

Our motto “Needs to be filled” is a dichotomous saying inspired by the endless desire to constantly learn about human culture and its roots in creativity. By celebrating innovation and experimentation, we’re committed to sharing dynamic contemporary art that acts as a mirror to the times. Through art and collaboration, we hope to shine a spotlight on emerging artists. We are moving forward, we are open-minded, and we are empty, searching to be filled.

About Modeka Art

Modeka Art is dedicated to providing a new and innovative platform for the most exciting local and international artists to showcase their work in an engaging and inclusive manner to revolutionize the way art is communicated and interacted with.

Modeka Art offers a diverse and eclectic mix of painting, sculpture, mixed media, limited edition prints, and fine art photography. Extending outside its four walls, Modeka also puts focus on site-specific art installations and art consultancy services to connect artists with brands to create unique opportunities for collaboration and art-driven experiences.

About Virlanie Foundation

Virlanie Foundation provides the most disadvantaged children with a caring family environment, opportunities for their healing and development through a multi-disciplinary approach, and in collaboration with all stakeholders, so they can reach their full potential and mainstream to society.

The organization provides their services with utmost excellence, integrity, and accountability; and, in harmony with their networks and partners, exhibits leadership in childcare and the promotion and protection of children’s rights. They demonstrate vitality, resilience, and innovation in their approaches to childcare, street children engagement, and family strengthening.

The exhibition The Wild Garden Of Childhood will be on view at Modeka Art until March 11, 2023.

Media coverage is requested. To request more information, please send an email to [email protected] or message the team via Instagram @theemptyscholar.

The Wild Garden Of Childhood

Points of Origin

MAK.INA