Category: Arts & Culture

The term gathering point can mean several things but it always turns out to be something good. It’s a meeting place, a stomping ground or a hangout. For four friends who hail from Angono, one of the country’s top art capitals, it’s the title of their ongoing group show at ARTablado at Robinsons Galleria as well as a reunion and a chance for them to showcase their artistry to a wider audience. 

Jovito Andres, Edberth Roan, William Ner and Irwin Tolentino all grew up in the town of Angono, roughly 30 kilometers east of Manila. A small fishing village along Laguna de Bay in the province of Rizal, it has a laidback vibe that might have helped to cultivate dozens of artists and creatives.  

The four featured artists were mentored by Angono native and esteemed visual artist Nemi Miranda who is credited with the art style called Imaginative Figurism. Despite this, all four went on to develop their respective art styles. 

Jovito and Edberth were elementary school classmates and became fast friends because of their shared love for art.

“We met William at art club in high school and remained friends all the way to college where we took up Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas,” Jovito said. They later met Irwin at Angono Ateliers, the art group where they were all active members, he added.

“We had our own groups of friends but since we all were passionate about making art, we were able to form strong bonds with one another,” Jovito said. 

Time passed and William and Irwin moved to the United States while Edberth transferred and busied himself with other pursuits. Only Jovito remained in Angono where he honed a style of painting that hews to traditional Filipino values of family.

Using oil paints on canvas or wood panels, or pastels on paper, Jovito’s idealized depictions include a family unit complete with tatay, nanay and bunso as well as separate paintings of Mother and child, and even a Father and child. The latter features a father with his back turned to the viewer and carrying his young son who is clutching a “lato lato”—a popular noisemaker that was the toy craze earlier this year.

Edberth prefers working with charcoal or colored pencils to bring out the different tonal values of shadows and light on paper. Many of his drawings are of orchids, lily pads and water lilies seen from above, the plants’ surfaces dotted with beads of moisture. His koi series is an archetype invitation to explore the natural world with an elevated ecological consciousness. Edberth also works with mixed media using intricate metalwork, gilded fibers, and other unusual everyday objects to produce unique pieces.

Using oil paints on Masonite board or canvas, William creates realistic and surreal paintings that incorporate disparate elements like Lego bricks, a Pinocchio puppet, bunched-up fabric, and tiny storm clouds. 

“Excruciate” is a painful closeup of what viewers might assume to be Christ’s twisted feet on the cross. William expresses his truth with a powerful blend of surreal elements and bold, representational imagery that beckons viewers to take a closer look. 

The fourth featured artist, Irwin Tolentino, creates abstract expressionist pieces that consist of acrylic paints and ink on watercolor paper. He employs action-packed paint splashes, organic drizzles, vivid color smears, and other texture-altering techniques to bring his pieces to life. 

“Although the four of us seldom get together, our friendship is still there. In fact, we still manage to joke around with each other given the ease of communicating nowadays,” Jovito said. 

“Gathering Point” is a way for the four friends to touch base once again, this time at ARTablado, a setting that—for several years now—has been a staunch supporter of Philippine creativity.  The exhibit at ARTablado at Robinsons Galleria runs until November 30.

In the art community, participating in group exhibits is a way to share one’s vision with others as well as a chance to explore one’s artistic capabilities, whatever the chosen medium. For a newly-formed Antipolo-based group of young artists, it’s also an opportunity to foster and build the community after three years of pandemic restrictions.

The ARTipolo Youth Group was established in 2022 to give its members a platform to share their talent to a wider audience and reach out to one another. “We now consider one another as family,” said group head Crishaira Peliño-Bode. “We are young artists in the process of finding our signature art style. At this point in our artistic journeys, we’re all still exploring how we can express our concepts and creativity. That’s what binds us together,” she added.

For their ongoing exhibit at ARTablado at Robinsons Antipolo—incidentally, their second at the venue—the group chose “Introspection” as its main theme. Bode explained that introspection can lead to “discovering the individual expression or identity of an artist or individual.”

The 19 participants in the ongoing group show on view until November 15 are all 36 years old or younger. 

A self-taught artist, Aminah Sioson has worked with mixed media like gouache, charcoal, colored pencils and acrylic paint. Last year she won People’s Choice Award in the visual art competition at the 19th National Youth Congress. Alexandra Monserrat is a Fine Arts student majoring in studio painting at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is able to juggle school and her passion for art. 

Ashley Lleno Is a young artist who has tried different styles like abstract expressionism, surrealism and realism using acrylic and oil paints.

Crishaira Bode graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, which did not stop her from her creative pursuits. She has participated in various art exhibits held around the country. 

Fine Arts major Dominic Fabio’s art style leans towards abstract and digital painting, focusing on lines and shapes. Many of his pieces are inspired by music. Fifteen-year-old Jae Zyril Contridas’ works with both traditional and digital media. 

Aside from drawing and painting, Jayson Borlon also works with styro cutouts, rubber models, paper mache, miniatures and murals. He also learned t-shirt printing and carpentry which he now uses to repair and make the canvases for his paintings. 

Fine Arts major Jenella Medina has been painting for several years. Since joining ARTipolo, she now favors a more realistic approach when making art with subjects like various flora and fauna. 

Jodel Francisco said he is drawn to and inspired by “the interplay of light and shadow, the brilliant colors of nature, and the rich tapestry of human emotions,” while John Mark Navarro said he is inspired by realism and tries to capture current social reality when he paints.  

Katlene Enriquez’s parents nurtured her interest in the arts, enrolling her in classes led by artist Fernando Sena at the UP Vargas Museum. Her first solo exhibit in 2015 consisted of 40 of her artworks.

Freelance artist Liana Mariz is a self-avowed pet lover who chose pets as her subject in a group show at Blanco Museum last year. She favors a contemporary style using acrylic paint on canvas. 

Mark Joseph Beloria is also a freelance artist who paints landscapes and portraits in realism and modern art style. He also does food painting. Marque De Leon works with different media like graphites, pen and ink, charcoal pencils, watercolor, soft and oil pastels, alcohol markers, and acrylic paints. To make his works look alive, he uses a combination of dark and light tones. 

Visual artist Ma. Cerlina Dalida’s forte is realism and impressionism. A favorite subject is the sea although she also does portrait commissions. Architecture major Yurika Lhora Palmones continues to nurture a deep passion for painting, and believes “an artist is born to create, express and inspire other people.”

The decision to hold a second exhibit at ARTablado in Robinsons Antipolo was agreed upon because, as Bode explained, “it’s a great venue to display the group’s artworks.” 

She added that “a lot of people visit the mall daily so there are more chances for our works to be seen and appreciated. It will also help boost tourism in Antipolo.”