Testing Ground
From left: Carlo Juntado, Joseph Firmeza,
Liby Limoso, Scott Sarria, Nil Capinianes,
Normal Posecion and Faith Anastacio
A usual visual art would mean oil, mixed media or acrylic on canvas. Different from this concept, the Independent Artists of Iloilo (IAI): Faith Anastacio, Nil Capinianes, Joseph Firmeza, Carlo Juntado, Liby Limoso, Norman Posecion and Scott Sarria mounted their second exhibit dubbed, 'Testing Ground'. The exhibit introduces the non-traditional forms of visual art these artists draw on the metaphor: A radical change of thought is comparable to the mutations after the event of a mushroom cloud nuclear explosion. Their works may not be new in respect to their global contemporaries. It is noticeably a paradigm shift on the notion that art per se is limited as decorative item or wall bound space fillers. 'Testing Ground' includes IAI's sovereign interpretation on the evolution and challenges in art education, expression and appreciation. It also invites, creates, illustrates, captures, and conceals ideas for every audience on the what's behind the thoughts of each artist.
The Artists and their works
Anastacio's '100 Tears Ago' in mixed media reveals her inner self in a maze that represents her struggles as well as the mending of a broken heart. The hues also symbolize man's conflicts and wrestle against pain. Thus, leaving him with two choices: either to be depressed or find means to survive.
The common beliefs and faith on the powers of 'agimat' or 'anting-anting' is told in Capinianes' work entitled 'Damgu Agimat'. His work poses the questions: 'Do we need 'agimat' or 'anting-anting' to counteract the miseries of life?' or 'Do we have to wait for a great power from an 'agimat' or 'anting-anting' to battle against the atrocious circumstances we experience?'
Evolution of time is touched by Firmeza in his works: 'Don't Ask Me Why, The Luxury of Time, It Pays To Advertise and Watch Your Back' as he experimented with digital medium and advertising ground tarpaulin. Known as an oil and acrylic painter, in this new collection he illustrated the human psyche on the circumstances and things that continually happen both of the past and present. The works has an aura of inquiry as he staged a significant item for viewers to know what had occurred in the past in relation to the present.
Juntado's expression on his view on sadness, death, pain and immortality depicts his works: The Final Cut, Comfortably numb and Heaven and Hell. It gives the impression of the sad but true reality that has continuously contaminated the human race. It also gives a 'point blank' end whether man's battle could be hopeful or hopeless. And in return question his own existence.
Limoso's 'Innocent Menace' speaks of the Aves' innocence in bringing the Avian Influenza on bird flu. Thereby, his work encourages the viewer to somehow take the place of a bird. He also presented his work as a quarantine area for both birds and humans. It mounted the contained thoughts on this global paranoia bringing forth its different angles.
The feeling of being in a tower or seeing a sky scraper building contains Posecion's conceptual artwork: 'Towers'. Though it could have been in different medium, he explored an 'out of the box' possibility of using adhesive tapes. Whereby, he brings forth the adhesive's artistic quality in designing a definitive value on appropriateness and exactness. His patterned straight lines in adhesives perfectly plays a contrast in light that would make a viewer stay for a few moments of pondering.
Sarria's work: 'Testing Ground' conceals his innate desire of combining and mixing colors on a more experiential outlook. His work also speaks a first hand experience of putting all his ideas using digital colors and texture in paper. The images also describe an in depth expression of every artist's language.
Testing Ground is are not mere manifestations of beauty but also a tool in exercising critical faculties and sound judgments. The exhibit is at Museo Iloilo, Bonifacio Drive Iloilo City from November 18 - December 2005.