Share masterpiece

CEBU, Philippines - Children, toy boats, and a large cauldron filled with water would sum up to laughter and a collective playful imagination melting into a community of memories.

This was the concept behind the work of 2008 Ateneo Art awardee Poklong Anading in Drunken Revelry, shown at the Zones of Influence exhibit at the Casa Gorordo Museum (35 Lopez Jaena St.).

“In Indonesia they have a common room where most young artists, mostly musicians, would gather. On my last day in Indonesia, we had a jamming session and that’s where I thought of putting this installation,” Anading related.

The boats became his instrument, as they produce distinct sounds while float in the water. These were recorded and tweeted by his friends to produce a unique sound that may be monotonous, yet, brings harmony and depth to the accompanying visuals. Anading said that the boats are common toys sold in the sidestreets and markets of Indonesia.

He describes his work as the output of a “collective community effort.” A collaborative work.

“Parang organizer lang ako o facilitator ng event (It’s just like I am just the organizer or the facilitator of the event),” he said.

The spirit of shared contribution in order to come up with a masterpiece is written all over Anading’s work. Even the choice of venue where he sets up his work vibrates the essence of community.

The stockroom, according to Anading, is where great works are stored and is thus a repository of a community of works.

“I was inspired by the space at the Ateneo Museum. In between the spaces were stockrooms, which are literally invisible,” Anading relates. “It came to me that the success of the gallery is there, inside that room, piled up. I believe it to be an active space that we don’t usually show because it is not part of the work.”

“My work is a collection of sounds and memories with children. The stockroom is also the same,” he said.

Using new technology in creating a work of art, combining it with the depth, texture and smell of the stockroom, Anading created a powerful work that would incite curiosity, amusement, reflection, and acceptance. Curiosity because the new medium is one that is not commonly encountered by art enthusiasts and not commonly used by artists, not even by the new breed. It encompasses different genres of art – music, cinema, sculpture, visual art, and performing arts. It simply defies classification. Amusement, because, as one begins to satisfy his curiosity, he would realize that what he’s looking at are kids who are playing. One way or the other, children evoke a sense of happiness and satisfaction in every one. And for them to be a part of a breakthrough project is simply amazing.

And as one would take more time to look at the work, he would start to dig deep into his life, relating what he see with his own experiences. Children innocently playing with toy boats, the mixture of water, air and fire to produce a monotonous sound that is amazingly meditative, and the mixture of depth and texture contributed by the works within the room could all spark realizations to its viewer.

Finally, as one would begin to understand the work, he begins to accept that it is simply that - an audio-visual presentation that can be a good aid in inciting a meditative experience.

Zones of Influence is an exhibition in response to the international studio residency grants of the 2008 Ateneo Art Award winners. Anading had his residency in Bandung, Indonesia. The exhibit will be on display at the Casa Gorordo Museum until end of March.