A glimpse of Vernon Agnelli Huibonhoa’s ‘Excursions’ at León Gallery
They say if you want to make it big, especially in an industry as dynamic and ever-changing as art, make sure to start it with a bang — and so did rising photographer Vernon Agnelli Huibonhoa during the opening salvo of his first solo exhibition, “Excursions,” held last Sept. 16 at León Gallery International.
The exhibition's cocktail reception was a high-profile debut for the young and talented Huibonhoa; it was well-attended by foreign dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, connoisseurs and lovers of art, and everyone interested to see the works of the young virtuoso.
Of course, behind the show's success is the continued fruitful partnership between the DF Art Agency — represented by its founder, Derek Flores — and the country's most trusted auction house, León Gallery, with its director, Jaime Ponce de Leon.
Huibonhoa's artist profile aptly introduces him: "Vernon earned his degree in political science from the Ateneo De Manila University, and he used to work in a private company as an account manager executive. He was part of the tennis varsity in high school and college. Vernon's fondness for photography allows him to explore the people, places, and the world around him through his camera lens.”
Huibonhoa's Excursions indeed signaled his arrival in the formidable art scene. As the exhibition notes put it, "For his first solo exhibition, Vernon Huibonhoa invites his viewers to his excursions. These leisure trips are visually translated through the compelling art of photography, effectively becoming his personal musings. Equipped with his Canon Rebel T5i, these images were taken from Huibonhoa's travels around the United States, Japan, and breathtaking Bali in Indonesia.”
Photographed in the span of approximately five years, Huibonhoa characterizes these images as either striking art pieces or picturesque sceneries that have piqued his curiosity and resonated with him. For the photographer, being at a particular place at the right time enables one to capture a fleeting moment that, in turn, resonates with the viewer, essentially transporting them to a different world that is satisfyingly gripping and devoid of the limitations of time and space. “In all these works, Huibonhoa's own way of seeing, observing, and perceiving the world around him is unveiled.”
