Exhibition

CEBU, Philippines - Independence: Perspectives in Art, a collection of works by Roberto “Raul” Agas, stands out in its featured artist’s take in the creation of impressionist-themed works, capturing glimpses of old Cebu, framed by the endearing compositional dynamics inherent in the impressionist movement.

Presented by TekWorx Mobile & Web Services, the exhibition celebrated its opening last June 10 at the 3rd Level of the Ayala Center Cebu, featuring more than 20 masterfully crafted acrylic and oil-based art pieces.

Having his own share of local and national distinctions, Independence: Perspectives in Art doesn’t betray Agas’ standing as one of Cebu’s respected artists, with his attention to detail, solid understanding of the principles of light and shade, and innovative application of “customized” artistic implements taking center stage.

“Tabo”, one of the exhibition’s featured pieces, easily points to Agas’ thematic inclinations as an artist, backed by the works  “Baradero 1” and “Baradero 2”.

“The River”, “Dating” and “The Old Bridge”, also featured in Independence: Perspectives in Art, says a lot about Agas’ penchant for the classic thematic compositional elements often met in impressionist works, playful in capturing water-laden sceneries that relay a sense of movement and the passing of time in non-temporal mediums.

With its featured works made with used credit/ATM cards, the exhibition goes beyond showcasing Agas’ impressionist sensibilities, but also says a lot about how far Cebu’s artists have gone in the experimentation, exploration and reutilization of artistic implements and mediums in the creation of works.

Born in 1966, Agas was born to a family of artists, with his father, Rodulfo Agas, and grandfather, Romeo Agas, being both established painters in the 50s.

The only finalist hailing from Cebu during the run of the 1998 Philippine Art Awards, Independence: Perspective in Art is Raul Agas’ 7th one-man exhibition, masterful in its overall execution and detailed in faming the wonder of impressionism, as seen through a Cebuano artist’s sights. (FREEMAN)