Joey Cobcobo, "Blak Picasso (Phyllis Zaballero)"
In a matriarchal society such as ours, grandmothers hold particularly beloved positions. Joey Cobcobo witnessed how becoming Lola transformed his own mother, and the unique and special bond she forged with his kids. He started interviewing grandmothers in 2010, documenting insights into their relationships with their grandchildren. Two years ago, he exhibited the fruits of his research in his solo show, Lola 101. Continue reading
Mac Valdezco, "Cloud Gatherers 2"
Does Mac Valdezco ever underwhelm? If we go by her solo exhibit now running at Avellana Art Gallery, apparently not. She manages to exceed my expectations each time she transforms the most banal and nondescript accessories into fantastic organisms. In this show, she has extra-terrestrials on her mind, and uses science fiction as inspiration for the work she has created to fill the entire gallery. Continue reading
Noell El Farol, "Disposable Anting-Anting", detail
Avellana Art Gallery’s annual printmaking exhibit always provides an opportunity to catch up with the stalwarts of the Philippine Association of Printmakers Inc. You get a mix of the old hands tweaking the tried and tested, along the craft’s younger practitioners introducing some fresh perspectives. Beyond Printmaking lives up to its purpose. It makes us believe in the art form’s vast possibilities, certainly aided by the wonderful way this show has been installed. Continue reading
Lynyrd Paras, "Tatay"
When Lynyrd Paras decided to pursue an art degree, he didn’t win parental approval immediately. Like most parents, Lynyrd’s wanted him to study something practical, enroll in a course that would help him secure steady employment. Lynyrd, however, remained steadfast.
Lynyrd Paras, "Alas Sais Pitong Misteryo"
Lynyrd Paras, "Dapat Alam Mo Kung Kelan Dapat Takpan"
Albert Avellana, of Avellana Art Gallery, spotted Lynyrd’s talent even then. To encourage the artist to stick to his art degree, Albert would include Lynyrd’s paintings in the gallery’s group shows. This helped defray the cost of Lynyrd’s materials.
Lynyrd Paras, "Lagi Laging Wala"
We all know that Lynyrd has since reaped the benefits of all his hard work. His first solo exhibit–his thesis show at CCP in 2007–brought him to the attention of the folks at TAKSU in Singapore and Malaysia. Lynyrd has since become an art world darling; collectors jostle each other at auctions and gallery exhibits for the chance to acquire his soulful portraits. With his success came a busy schedule, one that had not given him the chance to come back to where it all began for him—until now.
Lynyrd Paras, "Si Kuya Levin"
Days When Blood Are Tears marks Lynyrd’s first major reappearance at Avellana Art Gallery since his student days. For this exhibit, Lynyrd does portraits of his immediate and extended family. That he uses the people closest to him as his subjects seems so appropriate given that the show signifies a return home. Lynyrd intimated that his works for this show flowed naturally, that he enjoyed completing them because he felt that he knew each of his subjects very well.
As in the past, faces dominate Lynyrd’s paintings. They are superimposed on layers of figures and text. I thought Tatay, his grandfather’s portrait, was the strongest
Lynyrd Paras, "Papa Yel"
piece in the show. Manila audiences, however, are ready to see Lynyrd push the boundaries of his repertoire further. We are eager to see him take his talent to other avenues.
Days When Blood Are Tears runs from 4 to 31 December 2010 at Avellana Art Gallery, 2680 FB Harrison St., Pasay City. Phone (632) 833-8357
Lynyrd Paras, "hindihabangbuhayganito"
Lynyrd Paras
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZVAfxryizE
Many of her colleagues teasingly refer to Mac Valdezco’s February show, In Focus, as a mini-retrospective (See this blog’s
Mac Valdezco, "Plastic Ghost", from cling wrap, wire, and masking tape
February 2010 Archives). That exhibit inaugurated the art program of the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, and curator Albert Avellana did bring out choice pieces from Mac’s body of work. For the artist, seeing all the pieces she had put together posed a challenge. How would she achieve the same effect for her next solo outing? Mac decided that she needed to push herself, pit her pieces against each other, set new ones up against the old, spur herself to outdo previous work in the same media. Continue reading
Impy Pilapil, "Wave I"
In her exhibit notes, Impy Pilapil shares a memory from childhood, of a few stolen hours spent basking in the sea, of her yearning for the feel of waves. For her current exhibit at Avellana Art Gallery, she translates her girlish longings into two towering pieces, works from New Zealand armorwood, resin, and metal.
Detail, Wave I
With Wave I and Wave II, which stand tall as tsunamis, she captures the surf as it swells and crests and undulates in a never-ending rhythm. The grain of the light-colored wood mirrors the ripples on the ocean’s surface, broken now and again —by long metal rods, or twisting acrylic patterns, even by an actual surfboard embedded on one side.
Impy Pilapil, "Wave II"
Like the sea, Impy’s pieces impress with their vastness. And just like the sea, they mesmerize as well, soothing and calming with their quiet beauty.
Detail, Wave II
Impy Pilapil New Works runs until 13 February 2010 at Avellana Art Gallery, 2680 FB Harrison St., Pasay City, Phone (632) 833-8357.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_pG9kHO3aI
Detail, Wave II
