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Caroline Ongpin

Melvin Pollero

“SPACES for CONTEMPLATION”

Paseo Gallery Megamall

September 1-14, 2009

Paseo Gallery Megamall presents SPACES for CONTEMPLATION a two-man show by Caroline Ongpin and Melvin Pollero. These artists will show their latest oeuvres that are both unique in their own ways. They are contemporaries and both are emerging artists from the College of Fine Arts UP Diliman. Pollero’s works mostly speaks irony, showing the opposites of the beautiful and the ugly thus creating a visually contemplative works. Ongpin’s works on the other hand invite us to settle with the gallery, each one a depiction of rooms and several household objects. They are reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s indoor paintings in effects, but whereas Hopper paintings depict scenes of people with gloomy intonations, Ongpin’s paintings focus on the personal objects of these people as a point of departure to uncover the identity of the person. She takes out the distance from these houses, her eye is everywhere. She peeps through doors, and catches these things left as they are, lost inside this room or forgotten in neglect. She situates herself within but fills the painting with so much longing and anxiety. While Ongpin’s subjects were chosen arbitrarily from revisiting objects and rooms inside her house, her experience and story that backs up the meaning of the exhibition is deeply personal. In a more general outlook, the paintings may be considered as a reconciled response to the practices in modern living—the excesses and abounding wistfulness over lives which gives the exhibition its characteristic: It is about the melancholy of objects.

This particular set of paintings confers to us the significance of objects to the lives of people. That these objects were given the focus rather than presenting portraits of their owners tell of making mute objects speak of their history. It is a sort of, if these-walls-could-talk insight into the lives of people.

“Bathroom Mirrors” for example is based from a picture of a bathroom counter. The mirror reflects the objects strewn across it- hand sanitizers, toothbrushes and breath fresheners, and consequently the life that own these things.

Also in this line is “Melancholy of Objects”— a painting of a house library which is filled up with stuff— plastic bags, books, paper– rendered in earth tone colors. A remarkable feature of these paintings are their reservation in using color, brown for this one and mostly shades of blue on the others. These make the paintings all the more riveting and emotionally charged because of the meaning commonly appended to color.

Her use of color, for example tell you about a man who has his room filled with medicine bags and pill containers and items of the same thing all on one table.

“They’re supposed to give the viewer a clue, sort of, about whoever owns those things.”

To paint a collection of baggage is the metaphor for Ongpin. “It’s like things that people can’t let go of and they end up just piling up and making everything messy.” “Like emotional baggage,” she adds.

Aside from being the possession of someone, the objects in the paintings of Caroline Ongpin can be taken simply as objects whose meanings depend upon their function or their location. These objects are mostly shut in, unused and miserable, standing amidst their owner’s callousness or their insipid desolation. The paintings make both their stories exposed and their owners—the ultimate subject—vulnerable.

Comparable to the paintings of Caroline Ongpin are the poems of A.E. Houseman (1859-1936), a poet who also served as an inspiration to Edward Hopper. In his Last Poems, A. E. Housman speaks of being “a stranger and afraid/In a world I never made.” That is probably what the artist feels in coming up with ideas for her paintings—and what she conveys so bitterly in this exhibit.

“SPACES for CONTEMPLATION” by Caroline Ongpin and Melvin Pollero is on view from September 1-14, 2009 at Paseo Gallery Megamall, 4^th Level Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. For enquiries please contact: Telephone Numbers: Mobile + 639228872736 / +639175268082, Landline: (632) 706-5514; or email paseogallery@yahoo.com; website: www.paseogallery.com

Bathroom Mirrors by Caroline Ongpin

Melancholy of oBJECTS by Caroline Ongpin

Technorati Tags: Caroline Ongpin, Maelvin Pollero, Paseo Gallery-Megamall

unBOUNDed
by Jeho Bitancor

How does space as a phenomenon translate to embodied articulations of
personal and social significance?

Referencing my condition as a migrant, I had to grapple with this
problematic and contemplate on other questions whether the space to
locate our bodies constricting or liberating or both? If so, how does
it manifest?  Is it of our own choosing and creation, or is it imposed
and inherited?

My inquiry was triggered by the tension I had to negotiate as a
transient body constantly relocating itself, from the “periphery” to
the “center”, and from the west coast to Midwest to east coast in
barely two years.  This would mean adapting to new circumstances and
unfamiliar grounds.  Or better yet, enduring/enjoying shifting working
conditions; from a huge garage space in California, to a freezing open
patio in Memphis, to a claustrophobic basement apartment in Jersey
City, and finally to a decent studio space in the suburbs of Central
New Jersey.

It is while working in a spare space in Jersey City measuring less
than 7 X 5 ft in floor area that I have come to question the nature of
my existence.  Does the space I occupy define me or is it in defining
myself that I inhabited it?  Similarly, is the decision to be “in” the
space and adhere to the condition it entails a result of my own
volition alone or a product of inherited values historically ingrained
within my psyche? It can be both in my case for there are a number of
reasons that may be politically in/correct or even romantic. It can be
the notion of growing artistically/ intellectually and recognizing my
battle as a post-colonial subject, while at the same time grazing at
my enemy’s pasture for which I am not yet guilty of.

For this exhibition, I have focused on subjects that are apparently
social in context and navigating through issues that affect me.  For
me, there is no dividing line clearly delineating the personal to
societal.  I believe that personal experiences transcend to if not a
direct result of the workings of society.

Age-old issues of vulnerability, conformity, dislocation, bondage,
greed, identity and struggle are presented in various reconfigurations
and re-contextualization. Utilizing as a device objects that contain
figures or figures that resemble objects, the works allude to feelings
of entrapment, enclosure and imprisonment. Others served as shelter
and recluse, echoing the duality and manifold definition of inhabiting
and identifying with a space.

Jeho Bitancor’s “unBOUNDed” Will be on view until September 18, 2009
at blanc Makati.  blanc is located at Crown Tower, 107 H.V. dela Costa
St., Salcedo Village, Makati City.  For more information, please call
or sms 752-0032 / 0920-9276436, email info@blanc.ph or visit
www.blanc.ph, www.blancartspace.multiply.com

Technorati Tags: blanc, jeho bitancor

Taking its name from the political French film La Bravade Legendaire (1978), Les Bravades Legendaire (The Legendary Braggarts) follows the sequence of Vincent Padilla’s parody of gloriafied dignitaries in the society from Pilier and Oubliette. Padilla heavily bombards this one-man exhibit with varying themes of guile and deceit; backstabbing; and blatant hypocrisy contained in the bravado of an impervious socio-political circus. The artist cushions this vehement political foray with whimsical potbellied figures floating or mounted on what the artist calls ‘pillars of shame’ set against an abysmal perceptive space.

Les Bravades Legendaire (The Legendary Braggarts) is showing from September 6 – 25, 2009 at Tala Gallery 100 Scout De Guia Street, (nr. Tomas Morato), Kamuning, Quezon City, Philippines. Cocktails will be on September 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM.

Technorati Tags: Tala Gallery, Vincent Padilla

Dear friends of Filipino Artists:

Greetings of Peace in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Please come to the opening of 5 art exhibits at NINEVEH ARTSPACE

on July 26 (Sunday) at 2pm:

“STREET DIORAMAS” (4th solo show of RENE CUVOS)

The surreal, often witty and hyper-realist paintings of Rene never fail to

captivate. A BFA graduate (major in advertising) of PWU and based in

Cavite, he is a full-time artist.

“SCARECROWS” (9th solo show of EDWIN JUMALON)

Based in Zamboanga City, Edwin heads a family of artists including CCP

13 artists awardee Winner. Aside from 8 solos, he has participated in some

40 group shows, showing his versatility in both abstract and figurative works.

“HINUBOG NG PAET” (sculptures by BEN DAILO & BISOY IGLESIA)

Veteran sculptor Ben and 1st-timer Bisoy team up to demonstrate the excellence of Paete sculptors. Both full-time artists, they have dared go

beyond the ordinary and mediocre. Ben heads the Ukit-Kinale Artists Group

and Tangkas Sining-Laguna; Bisoy did the 2007 Cinemanila bulol trophy.

“KWADRADO” (group show by Maya Correa, Bon Mujeres,

Raphy Pagarigan & Juanito Torres)

All products of the UP College of Fine Arts and, with the exception

of Mujeres, the Phil.High School for the Arts, they were among the first to

exhibit at NINEVEH. Two of them – Bon and Juanito – have had solo shows.

Their distinct treatments of Filipino themes are always visual delights.

“SIDELIGHTS” (group show by AGAWEXENA)

An informal grouping of Manila-Laguna artists mostly from TUP, the AGAWEXENA artists are: Rey Angelo, Richard Apostol, Dennis Campos, Herald Corpus, Ramon dl Cruz, Rendy dl Cruz, Cesar Delgado, Beck Dolecen, Alger Guevarra, Lito Jandayan, May Jandayan, Luigi Juinio, Alrashdi Mohammad, Lirio Salvador, Chriseo Sipat and Carlo Talion.

The exhibits will run up to August 19, 2009.

For details, please contact the undersigned or Mr. Marvien De Leon at (049)501-6617,

(049)572-6617, 0927-9313951, 0905-4281329 or 0908-6585164.

You may also visit www.esnips.com/web/ninevehartspace

We hope to see you at NINEVEH! Thank you!

LUIS “LOUIE” L. SEVILLA

Art Patron

Jonah’s House of Prayer
2452 1st Avenue Villa Silangan Subdivision,
Barangay San Pablo Sur, 4009 Sta. Cruz, Laguna
Philippines
Landline: (+6349) 501-6617 (PLDT)
Mobile:    (+63905) 4281329 (GLOBE)
(+63929) 4733899 (SMART)
E-mail: mcvien96@yahoo.com
mcvien96@gmail.com
mcvien96@hotmail.com
Homepage: http://www.esnips.com/web/ninevehartspace
invitations_final

Technorati Tags: Nineveh Artspace

Leeroy New and Tatong Recheta Torres’ “Odeon Universal Galaxy” opens
Monday August 24 at blanc compound 359 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.
For more information, please call or sms 752-0032 / 0920-9276436,
email info@blanc.ph or visit www.blanc.ph,
www.blancartspace.multiply.com

The exhibit will run until September 10, 2009.

Technorati Tags: blanc, Leeroy, Tatong Recheta Torres

The Kulay, Kultura, Kalawili (Color, Culture and Harmony) exhibition is the first major exhibition of the Haraya Visual and Media Arts Society in Hong Kong, a group of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists and creative professionals.

The exhibition will be on show at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Main Gallery from 13th to the 30th of August 2009.

There will be a soft opening reception at 4pm on the August 13. The general public opening will be held on Sunday 16 August 2009.

Its going to be a tv show , coming soon at Philippine TV

See more info by following the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hITH7mbufug

SIBLINGS IN ART

Filipinos value the family. For the pilot episode, Art Republik features two families involved in the fields of independent film and the visual arts. The show features two sets of siblings who are polar opposites as punk is to classical music: the Lee Brothers and the Dalena sisters. Roxlee, the hero of underground cinema; Romeo Lee commonly known as Lee, University of the Philippines-Diliman icon and visual artist/performer; multi-awarded filmmaker Sari Lluch Dalena; visual artist Aba Lluch Dalena and; filmmaker/visual artist Kiri Lluch Dalena.

Siblings who are usually exposed to the same interests when they were young pursue the same vocation. Is it the case of the younger sibling following the steps of their parents or the lead of an elder sibling? The show talks to Roxlee, Lee, Sari, Aba and Kiri, and finds out the common activities they engaged in when they were young, their home environment, and their relationship to each other then and now.

Technorati Tags: art republik, tv

After mounting his first solo effort early this year, Frederick Sausa
will be having his second at the blanc art space in Makati, wherein he
will present his latest pieces in new working mode of expression.
These are the accumulated images from various existing references. And
these thought-out processes inherently evident in some paintings and
the compositions were similar to that of sticker leftovers; there are
still pictures with punched holes. This approach was used in the
initial exhibit, stripped and out of focus photos from magazine pages
in appropriation. In this show, acrylic was mainly used as the vehicle
for antithesis of the much well-praised oil paints. Aside from being
industrial, synthetic and ordinary; these pigments were part of the
80’s once in-demand industry of giant movie billboards, also used by
graffiti artists, muralists, effigy makers and other forms of street
art.

Choices of images were of archetypal youth culture, rebellion, power
and failures, eccentricities of glamour era and documented works by
other artists. It is also a process of decoding redundant physical
beauty, demystification of sexual innuendos and unfinished words that
can be overwritten about stories left untold that we find in the
living rooms, hotels’ comfort room, one teenager’s bedroom wall, full
of posters and it’s about everyday boredom that indulges the viewers
to participate into somebody else’s privacy and solitude, yet masked
of narrative context that left viewers empty handed.

Frederick Sausa’s “Pretty Vacant” opens on Monday, 6PM, August 10,
2009 at blanc Makati.  blanc is located at Crown Tower, 107 H.V. dela
Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City.  For more information, please
call or sms 752-0032 / 0920-9276436, email info@blanc.ph or visit
www.blanc.ph, www.blancartspace.multiply.com

Pretty Vacant  will run until August 28, 2009

Technorati Tags: blanc, Frederick Sausa