Art review: Batanes, crayon colors, Kuh Ledesma and skulls in 'Artmoves'

 

Artmoves, a group exhibit of artists including singer Kuh Ledesma, features pieces that do not seem to belong together. At first, one might not even realize that the different sets of paintings are actually part of the same exhibit.

The space, which includes different areas, also allows the viewer to experience the pieces as separate exhibits. Moving from one artist's pieces to the next feels like a dream where scenes fade in and out. The dream begins with a wall of water color paintings by Monchet Ongsiako, then fades out and the dreamer is transported to windy Batanes through photos by Mandy Navasero, exhibited in collaboration with US-based Bobby Nuestro.

Looking at these pieces, one might feel a bit confused. The eyes are drawn both to the photos and to the art surrounding the photos, but the two don't really seem to work together, despite the art being repeated oil paintings of the images. However, in keeping with the dream sequence experience, this wall is like a faded photo album, a short break before the bright, vivid hues of Vinson Yap's abstract impressionist paintings.

On another wall are crayon-bright pieces by Jethro Jocson, art teacher and painter. One might be glad to spend some time looking at the cheerful set before moving on to the next section, where Katrina Pallon showcases her Frida Kahlo-inspired paintings of oriental beauties, skulls floating amid flowers. Also in the exhibit are Roland Santos' lush flower paintings and Evie Roque's Warhol-inspired portraits.

If the exhibit were a dream, there would be one continuous thread that reappeared in between disconnected scenes, and this would be Ledesma's paintings. Taking up the most space due to their size, the paintings are impossible to ignore, and one finds oneself looking at them again and again as they pass from wall to wall.

The paintings feature musical instruments whose lines flow and loop, suggesting a pleasant melody, In another of Ledesma's paintings, blades of grass blend into each other and disappear in the sunlight. According to a Philstar newspaper clipping posted next to Ledesma's work, the exhibit's purpose is to raise funds for a film. Called "Hilom", the movie will be about healing.

"It is my hope that this film will expose the perils of believing in albolaryos and to believe in the power of the word of God and the power of prayer, which is the Bible," Ledesma was quoted in the article as saying.