After the Mourning
08 10 2009
The day started clear as the blue sky. It was time go on the routine rounds and start writing again. Everything seems to come out with a new lease in life. I appreciated that I am alive, healthy and physically able. It was something basic that I could share hopefully with others.
I just came from Erik Sausa's 2nd solo exhibit at Blanc Gallery Makati titled "Pretty Vacant." This was the first art exhibit I have been to after almost three weeks of resting – idleness is a state of mind and body that I am being adept at nowadays. I enjoyed the respite and the new perspective from the eventful months of July and early August 2009. The last SONA of the President, the stable state of the Philippines despite the continuing recession in America, flooding and typhoon “Kiko affecting thousands,” the death of President Corazon Aquino and another hint of conspiracy theory of “hidden wealth” were all in the headlines. Sigh… Some are really predictable especially nearing the elections of 2010. I would not like to tackle the National Artists Award since I am of mind for the giving of the distinctions and not retracting it, hankering for and relegating it to the mundane politics of squabbles.
I still struggle to hope that some of these eventful images would again reflect in timely contemporary exhibits even in pun. In tasteful, sincere and reflective observations but I was hoping for naught. “Alas!” we will just have to wait some more. Perhaps the Filipino artists are as captivated just watching news and acting it out on the streets just like everyone.
Let us get back to the opening exhibit of painter Erik Sausa. We have been waiting for the right venue for this artist and Blanc Gallery Makati suits him to a "T." I found the exhibit a bit wanting but enjoyed the space, images and the crowd. His works progressed early on to larger pieces and on a much playful tone. I was looking for the exhibit notes but had to be content with only the titles to hint on the images presented by this artist like “The Riddle of the Sphinx” as a conceptual throwback from an earlier work and a portraiture in “Sid Viscous” – a play on iconic band culture. This artist from Angono is just starting his solo shows and seems to be on the right track of retelling his version of the journey. He has been very active with collaborating with young artists for the past few years. The diversity and dynamism seems to have rubbed on as his works have matured enough with the current edge. There is that guessing game of appropriations and of negating spaces that leaves the audience wanting to ask “why.” Seeing the bombardment of images in an unlikely perspective just leaves us more perplexed and caught up hoping the next answer to the riddle would be on the next painting.
The months of July and August seem to be the test for the Philippines. They had marked changes hopefully for the better. They had also signaled storms to contend with and the ever distractions of Philippine politicking. The Zambales flooding has been overshadowed by propaganda and nit pickings. The stable economy has been overlooked by pessimism. The triumph of Philippine Democracy belittled by grandstanding. The death and mourning was played for the ratings game. It probably would continue with the hidden wealth speculation now. The funny thing though is that everything seems to happen too in the Philippines. Speculations would now fly as to why one could profit in times of recession that even other countries failed on. If you’re an economist then you would know how to profit, right? Let's hope the coming days would end up clear too.
August 10, 2009
Amiel Gerald A. Roldan
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
amiel_roldan@yahoo.com
amiel.roldan@gmail.com
*** visit me also at
www.amielroldan.tk
www.amiel-roldan.tk
www.amielroldan.wordpress.com
www.amielroldan.blogspot.com
www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/a-g-roldan.html
www.myspace.com/amiel_roldan
www.amiel_roldan.multiply.com
******
The day started clear as the blue sky. It was time go on the routine rounds and start writing again. Everything seems to come out with a new lease in life. I appreciated that I am alive, healthy and physically able. It was something basic that I could share hopefully with others.
I just came from Erik Sausa's 2nd solo exhibit at Blanc Gallery Makati titled "Pretty Vacant." This was the first art exhibit I have been to after almost three weeks of resting – idleness is a state of mind and body that I am being adept at nowadays. I enjoyed the respite and the new perspective from the eventful months of July and early August 2009. The last SONA of the President, the stable state of the Philippines despite the continuing recession in America, flooding and typhoon “Kiko affecting thousands,” the death of President Corazon Aquino and another hint of conspiracy theory of “hidden wealth” were all in the headlines. Sigh… Some are really predictable especially nearing the elections of 2010. I would not like to tackle the National Artists Award since I am of mind for the giving of the distinctions and not retracting it, hankering for and relegating it to the mundane politics of squabbles.
I still struggle to hope that some of these eventful images would again reflect in timely contemporary exhibits even in pun. In tasteful, sincere and reflective observations but I was hoping for naught. “Alas!” we will just have to wait some more. Perhaps the Filipino artists are as captivated just watching news and acting it out on the streets just like everyone.
Let us get back to the opening exhibit of painter Erik Sausa. We have been waiting for the right venue for this artist and Blanc Gallery Makati suits him to a "T." I found the exhibit a bit wanting but enjoyed the space, images and the crowd. His works progressed early on to larger pieces and on a much playful tone. I was looking for the exhibit notes but had to be content with only the titles to hint on the images presented by this artist like “The Riddle of the Sphinx” as a conceptual throwback from an earlier work and a portraiture in “Sid Viscous” – a play on iconic band culture. This artist from Angono is just starting his solo shows and seems to be on the right track of retelling his version of the journey. He has been very active with collaborating with young artists for the past few years. The diversity and dynamism seems to have rubbed on as his works have matured enough with the current edge. There is that guessing game of appropriations and of negating spaces that leaves the audience wanting to ask “why.” Seeing the bombardment of images in an unlikely perspective just leaves us more perplexed and caught up hoping the next answer to the riddle would be on the next painting.
The months of July and August seem to be the test for the Philippines. They had marked changes hopefully for the better. They had also signaled storms to contend with and the ever distractions of Philippine politicking. The Zambales flooding has been overshadowed by propaganda and nit pickings. The stable economy has been overlooked by pessimism. The triumph of Philippine Democracy belittled by grandstanding. The death and mourning was played for the ratings game. It probably would continue with the hidden wealth speculation now. The funny thing though is that everything seems to happen too in the Philippines. Speculations would now fly as to why one could profit in times of recession that even other countries failed on. If you’re an economist then you would know how to profit, right? Let's hope the coming days would end up clear too.
August 10, 2009
Amiel Gerald A. Roldan
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
amiel_roldan@yahoo.com
amiel.roldan@gmail.com
*** visit me also at
www.amielroldan.tk
www.amiel-roldan.tk
www.amielroldan.wordpress.com
www.amielroldan.blogspot.com
www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/a-g-roldan.html
www.myspace.com/amiel_roldan
www.amiel_roldan.multiply.com
******
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