I was invited to attend the “run-through” exhibition that was initiated by the Foundation University Fine Arts Department, ably led by the exhibition’s lead curator Ms. Sandra Palomar, an efficient and avant-garde artist herself.
Entitled Sibol, the run-through was actually a practice-run for MADE’s 40th anniversary exhibition in Manila comprising paintings and sculptures that encapsulate the unfolding of a Philippine contemporary art narrative at the turn of the 21st century.
The main section features 40 artworks from the Metrobank Art Collection. A second section subtitled Metathesis of Styles, features recent artworks and design objects by awardees that attempt material and conceptual transcendence beyond the category and practice under which they were recognized early in their career. Technological innovations are integrated to identify thematic sub-sections in the curatorial narrative and engage viewers to dive deeper into an experience of the artist’s imagination.
With this, MADE aims to connect art with the public, support emerging artists, and create a legacy within the Philippine art scene.
The curatorial team was composed of Ms. Palomar as lead curator, with the assistance of students, namely, Dianne Capunong, Ianne Repollo, Hyna Sampayan, and Joven Uba (AR/VR Development); Christine Jalotjot (Audience Development), and Aianne Diongco (Design Development).
Academic advisors include Griezl Bation, Noel Cabangbang, Kevin Piñero, Jose Phil Sabuga, and Jay Cris Sisneros.
As I stepped into the “run-through” event, I was immediately enveloped in an atmosphere that was both familiar and utterly transformative. The air was thick with anticipation, a silent promise of the extraordinary.
I had grown up with a deep appreciation for art, my childhood memories interlaced with the vibrant colors and textures of landscape paintings that hung in our not-so-big living room. But as I walked through the threshold of the exhibition, I knew I was about to witness art in a form that I have never imagined possible.
The first piece that caught my eye was a dynamic display that seemed to pulse with life. It was a far cry from the static canvases I was accustomed to. Instead, it was a living, breathing entity, created with VR components and equipment that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. The colors shifted and morphed before my eyes, the scene unfolding like a story being told in real time. It was as if the artist had captured the very essence of nature’s heartbeat and set it free on this digital canvas.
As I moved through the exhibition, each piece was a testament to the evolution of art.
With their eyes bright and full of dreams, young artists had taken the reins of tradition and galloped into the future. They were not content with replicating the beauty of the world around them; they were creating new worlds, new realities. Their art was interactive, inviting the observer to step into their visions, to become a part of the story.
One installation, in particular, left me breathless. It was a virtual reality experience that transported me to a landscape that could have only been born from the depths of the imagination.
I am supposed to virtually paint, but because I wasn’t very familiar with the buttons or which one to press and into what direction, I experienced something unexpected. With the many comments that I said back there (while I was holding that “control” thing in my hand), the student-artists knew that I was having the “wrong experience” and they tried to tell me what to do to get the “expected adventure.” But I told them, “No, just let me do my thing because I was amazingly enjoying.” I was relishing it because instead of “painting virtually,” I “saw” that I was inside some cocoon (which had a panoramic view that made me feel like I was in the middle of some extremely vast space. And I love it!
The experience was profoundly moving. It was a stark reminder of how art has always been a mirror to society, reflecting the times and the technology that shaped it. But more than that, it was a celebration of the human spirit’s unyielding desire to push boundaries, explore the unknown, and express the inexpressible.
As I left the Sibol Exhibition Run-Through, I carried with me a sense of awe and a deep respect for these young artists. They were not just painting with brushes; they were painting with code, with light, with the very fabric of reality. They were the architects of a new artistic renaissance, and I had been fortunate enough to witness the birth of something truly revolutionary.
The world outside seemed different somehow as if the exhibition has imbued me with a new perspective.
I concluded (while I was walking down the Social Garden), that art, in its purest form, was not confined to the physical realm but was a boundless exploration of the human experience. And these young artists, with their fearless innovation, are leading us into a future where the only limit is our imagination.
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