Sharp Eyes: The Art Exhibitions to Visit This August
This month’s art exhibitions are charged with critiques as high-caliber artists probe into what it means to see and to perceive.
Artists may be the most tasked to create a medium by which others are challenged to see beyond the obvious, beyond what’s simply presented in front of them. Towards this end, they demand of themselves the wisdom and the facility to point out what others might easily overlook.
After all, what good is an artist if they can’t entice the rest of the world to see beyond?
Perimeters by Vien Valencia at ArtInformal Gallery
Vien Valencia has been gaining traction among premium galleries and collectors for his bold approaches to opening up discourse through a wide array of media. This speaks volumes about his capacity as an artist who merges his practice with community care and engagement. This particular exhibit explores how one’s identity is formed through the normalcy of tools, papers, routines, and uniforms.
At Artinformal Gallery, August 13 to September 11
The Path Through Ghost Trajectories by Jay Ticar and Amy Aragon at The Drawing Room
Jay Ticar and Amy Aragon enlighten us with the transformation of meanings mediated by our convoluted dependence on media consumption and the popularization of artificial intelligence. Their paintings are ghostly, highlighting the steady loss of humanity—a conscious surrender we have made in a society riddled with new technologies that display visible corruption.
At The Drawing Room Gallery, August 16 to September 13
Sa Lukong ng mga Palad [In the Hollow of Palms] by Carlo Gabuco and Eunice Sanchez at Finale Art File
Eunice Sanchez and Carlo Gabuco utilize the properties of photographs to resurface epistemologies inherited from our colonial past—one of which is the inescapable idea that what can be held must be claimed, an economic greed that further marginalizes underprivileged communities. In this exhibit, photographs are displayed in a state of fading to remind us of their role as a mode of archiving, signifying also the looseness of narratives when forgotten or unrepresented.
At Finale Art File Gallery, August 8 to 30
Bersikulo by Ryan Jara at Finale Art File
On the subject of narratives, Ryan Jara brings to the fore Filipinos’ deep-seated religiosity and its connections to familial ties through a series of cubist paintings. His 8- x 18-foot artwork is perhaps the best example of the artist’s dedication to reframing the Bible as a work of art, rather than a text to be worshipped. He reminds us that the Bible is abundant with stories as complex and brutal as relationships within the domestic realm.
At Finale Art File Gallery, August 8 to 30
A Garden in the Chest by Is Jumalon at Mo_Space
Through her series of abstracted gardens, Is Jumalon depicts the richness of solace in meaning-making. Our bodies, being shells that contain our souls, are much like puddles that reflect and remember torrential downpours that happen within. But they are also life-givers for realizations—a garden speckled with dew.
At Mo_Space Gallery, August 9 to September 7
Godhead by Gene Paul Martin at Mo_Space
Gene Paul Martin’s work is massive, occupying the walls of the gallery like a carpet of shifting figures. Made with a single brush, the work—though stylistically light years more sophisticated—is reminiscent of the Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux, when humans made art with only branches and bones lying around. The piece is dynamic, depicting a landscape of abstracted forms that seem to cram all of history into one colossal canvas.
At Mo_Space Gallery, August 9 to September 7
Bridging The Gap at ProvenanceProvenanceThe documented history of an object's ownership, origin, and authenticity, particularly important for classic cars, watches, art, and wine. Strong provenance can dramatically raise an item's value, and collectors andGo to Provenance Glossary Art Gallery
Located at the culturally resonant space of Power Plant Mall, this three-month initiative is reaching its last leg. It was conceptualized by the gallery to give rising contemporary artists like Ioannis Sicuya, Tekla Tamoria, Lec Cruz, Blaise Zamora, and Bettina Escaño the opportunity to exhibit their work to a wider audience who seek excellence and depth in the arts.
At Provenance Art Gallery, until August 30