Double Bill: Geraldine Javier in KL, Leslie de Chavez in Switzerland

Hearing that Geraldine Javier opens a show in KL this week and Leslie de Chavez exhibits in Switzerland as we speak may not be as groundbreaking as electing the first African-American President of the United States.  But surely, we Pinoy art lovers can also walk a little taller.  After all, those who follow their careers know that when these two perfectionists strut their stuff,  we all have something to crow home about.

GERALDINE JAVIER AND AT MACULANGANGREEN COMES OUT OF BLUE BUT IS RICHER THAN BLUE

Anticipating a Geraldine show is analogous to reading Patricia Highsmith.  One knows to expect something a little off-kilter and slightly loopy, sinister even, underneath that veneer of perfect placement.  But always, always something different from what she has done before.  This time she teams up with photographer At Maculangan and explores the interaction between photos and paintings, paying tribute to those who have photographed, been photographed, chosen photographs.

ge-arrangement-in-gray-and-black

My favorite piece of the show has to be Arrangement in Gray and Black, a memento mori to Vogue icon Diana Vreeland.  Here one sees Vreeland’s striped pyjamas posed on her striped sofa, against her striped wall, an empty shell of herself lounging as she has so often been portrayed. It echoes the empty shells framed, embroidered, and waxed at the rear.  Other images embroidered and framed:  one flower arrangement done in the style of the Baroque Dutch painters of the 17th century, and a blackbird, i.e. a crow, the bird of death, so lyrically wrought.

ge-moonlight

Moonlight  memorializes photographer Susan Mann, controversial for  naked images of her children.  The wall of photos beside her has been stripped of her work, only imprints remain as proof of their former presence.  In Birdwatch  we see the king of twisted tales, Alfred Hitchcock, brandishing a plucked goose, shown on a screen at a theater in Cubao X  where one watches on beanbags ominously shaped like fallen birds.

ge-birdwatch

The Wallflower , already exhibited at Finale’s warehouse inauguration, shows artist Georgia O’Keefe later in her life, the black and white flowers both an homage to her work and a reminiscence of one of Geraldine’s early signature pieces.ge-wallflower

Green Comes from Blue but is Richer than Blue at Valentine Wille Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur from 11 to 29 November 2008.  www.vwfa.net and www.geraldinejavier.com

LESLIE DE CHAVEZ:  BANANA REPUBLIC

Crosshair

Crosshair

trip-to-jerusalem

Trip to Jerusalem---my fave!

Artist Leslie de Chavez may not exhibit in Manila, but his work confirms that the state of our nation does not stray very far from his thoughts.  Always so powerfully expressed, this time by the banana as the harbinger of a corrupt society, his visual exposes, painted layer upon careful layer, strip all but the truth in their black-tinged images.  Are we then reduced to monkeys?

When Hunger Feeds On Ones Soul

When Hunger Feeds On Ones Soul

For those of us immersed in the local art scene, Leslie will always be the artist that got away, whisked off to be the toast of Seoul, Beijing, New York, and now Zurich.

Daydreaming With Nightmares

Daydreaming With Nightmares

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Medium is the Message

The Medium is the Message

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eclipse

Eclipse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banana Republic shows at Avanthay Contemporary from 9 October to 25 November 2008.  www.avanthaycontemporary.com

 

2 comments on “Double Bill: Geraldine Javier in KL, Leslie de Chavez in Switzerland

  1. HI TRICKIE, FINALLY GOT TO SEE YOUR BLOG. MUST SAY THAT THIS IS SOOO INTERESTING AND SO MANY NEW ARTISTS I’VE NEVER HEARD OF BUT WITH VERY INTERESTING WORK. DO INCLUDE ME IN YOUR DISTRIBUTION LIST.

    FULLY RECUPERATED SINCE MACTAN,
    MIKE

  2. thank you for this blog.. i’ve been holed up preparing for a show… and have not been up to date on whats happening.. @ ghe’s work > IDOL

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