MANILA, Philippines - Francis Nacion mounts his fifth one-man show which opens on Oct. 24 at Galerie Stephanie titled “Genesis.†The show is on view until Nov. 8.
The art of Francis Nacion begins with his readings into folk spirituality and the myths and legends of the countryside. Looking at a Francis Nacion painting is like having a folk story come to life — full of fairies and spirits, animal transformations, heroes and ordinary rural folk caught up in world of magic and mystery. And the artist knows what he paints: he uses his own personal experience as a foundation of a larger analysis of folk traditions. It is from this source of inspiration that Nacion builds stunning works.
Nacion compositions are playful, drawing on the folk belief in the ability of spirits to take the forms of humans and animals.
In “Midnight Sonata,†the bluish tint of dusk marks the start of a festival of spirits where music and song waft up into the night sky. Here, animals take their true spirit forms, in a ceremony that is a joyful and jubilant affair. “The Explorer†is a more contemplative piece. Here, we see a spirit in the form of a horned, wolf-like beast clutching a telescope and seeking out new lands. Framed by the reddish hue of strange vegetation, the artist seeks to instill a sense of urgency around the work — as if the spirit is looking for a new home amid the destruction of his original environment.
Galerie Stephanie is at Unit 1B Parc Plaza Building, 183 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (C-5), Libis, Quezon City. For information, call 709-1488.