Existence: A Southern Exposures Series

CEBU, Philippines - There are certain truths in life that prove their being simply by existing - regardless of how esoteric their nature is; regardless of how mysterious or less comprehensible their inner workings or failings are.

Qube Gallery's featured art exhibition for the first half of August - "Existence: A Southern Exposure Series" - shed some light to a number of these truths - without unnecessarily depending on visual interpretations of emotional blackmail; without relying on intoned embellishments that echo the recitations of old, tried and tested formulae.

Bringing together the works of Iligan's Tinta Artists and Cagayan de Oro's Memento Group, the show's presented pieces were beholden to unraveling certain realities of life - from encapsulating how many of us are energetic only at evading responsibilities, to illustrating why there's no lasing merit in adamantly living in the relics of a better youth.

In Renz Altubar's "Home-seek" - one of the show's presented pieces - viewers were reminded of what it means to only pay homage to the rope of chance; hoping that - at some point in its length - a semblance of direction would lead one's youth away from the corruptions that plague innocence.

In "Playing God," hyperrealist Ivan Macarambon bared a thematic interpretation of the dangers of climate change, where the artist juxtaposed creation next to destruction.

Chris Gomez's "Common Ground" took a two-fold stance in resounding the constant fluidity of duality, a thematic treatment that was complemented by another piece entitled "Capayason" - which is the Cagay-anon slang for "boastful." In this particular piece, viewers were reminded how being "hambogero" could either be a good or a bad thing, but not both at the same time.

While Richard Bolotalo's "Baptism of Fire" series - two of the show's noteworthy pieces - could be described as eye candy, the works actually came across as commentaries on the many ways spiritual armor are used by victims and victors alike.

The works' multi-valued tone was equivocally echoed in Nonilo Ramoso's "Tabang Ug Duot," where audiences were afforded with the essence of the show's overall presentation - in how life's harsh bargains could either recede self-depreciation or damn one's curiosity for progressive change - all depending on how one chooses to exist.

"Existence: A Southern Exposure Series" ran until Monday, August 18, in Qube Gallery at The Henry Hotel, in Banilad. (FREEMAN)