Angelito Antonio, Michael Cacnio and other artists pay tribute to moms

Whether you call her mama, mom, mommy, ma, mamu, nanay, or moms, this month is as good a time as any to celebrate the one woman you would be nothing without—your mother.

 

Although Mother's Day is still on May 13, there are already some early events to attend. One of them is the "Mumz & Kidz (Dads Too!)" Mother's Day exhibition which opens at The Podium on May 2.  

A special exhibition by Galerie Joaquin and Galerie Francesca, it features works from some of the leading modern and contemporary artists in the country. Joining the exhibit are Angelito Antonio, Jovan Benito, Michael Cacnio, Jomar Delluba, Carlo Magno, Hamzah Marbella, Roel Obemio, Aljo Pingol, Dominic Rubio, Lydia Velasco and Migs Villanueva.

 

The different styles of the artists reflect the reality that no two mothers are exactly the same. Guided by the conceptual framework of portraying mothers and their families, the artists set to work and came up with various takes on the subject.

 

Within an affinity with the transparent cubism pioneered by National Artist Vicente Manansala, Angelito Antonio depicts the classic 'mother and child' motif' in his monochromatic “Sa Piling ni Inay.” Sharp lines and soft shades work together in this thoughtful piece.

 

Dominic Rubio chooses to paint with nostalgia and romance, creating a tender scene in his “Pag-alaga ni Inay.” He also paints a family portrait from the past, bringing the canvas to life with bright blues and reds.

 

Lydia Velasco focuses on the nurturing side of motherhood, with her “A Mother's Love,” which features the female form and imparts strong emotions to an already charged scene.

 

Jovan Benito also shows a nurturing mother in “Afternoon Bathtime,” which features her trademark figurative abstractions with high emphasis on the eyes. Also in Duyan, Benito shows the bond between mother and child as they share a quiet moment in a hammock.  

On the other hand, sculptor Michael Cacnio chooses to highlight a father's relationship with his child in his whimsically affectionate “Father and Son Fly A Kite.”

 

Jomar Delluba shows what makes a mother happy in his action portraits showing playful children through hyperrealist snapshots in “A Summer's Surprise.” In one of Delluba's portraits, a girl with an impish smile is surrounded by flowers, which she paints bright yellow.

 

Nine-year-old painter Hamzah Marbella shares his visions of motherhood through a child's eyes in his “Bonding with Mom.”

 

Roel Obemio shows the sentimental quaintness of a traditional family day for Filipinos in his 'Sunday Afternoon,' where he continues his adherence to Fernando Botero's style of volume figurations.

 

Migs Villanueva shows sisters on a May day stroll in her “Morning Walk.” In her “Night-Night Mommy,” doll-like children figure in a sweet bedtime picture.

 

The exhibit hopes to be "the perfect way for families to express their devotion and appreciation to the most important woman in their lives." –Carmela G. Lapeña/KG, GMA News

 

The exhibition will have an opening reception on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. at The Atrium of The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong. It will run until May 6 at The Atrium. Other exhibit dates: May 7 to 13 at Galerie Joaquin Podium Gallery at the Lower Ground Level of The Podium; and May 14 to 20 at Galerie Francesca Megamall at the 4th Level of SM Megamall.

 

For details, contact Galerie Joaquin at (02) 634-7954 or galeriejoaquin.podium@yahoo.com; and Galerie Francesca at (02) 570-9495/659-2667 or galeriefrancesca.mega@gmail.com or galeriefrancesca001@yahoo.com.ph. The artworks may also be viewed at www.galeriejoaquin.com and www.galeriefrancesca.com.