MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is known for its creative take on transportation. From the hardy rural carabao to the colorful city jeepneys, caritelas, calesas, and tranvias, to the more avant garde hot air balloon, Filipinos love to travel in style. So a journey (or biyahe) around the Philippines becomes a lively and rich adventure, where one can find himself in the company of open and delightful fellow travelers.
Jovan Benito explores this idea of Philippine-style of transportation in “Biyahe,” which opens on Nov. 12, 6 p.m. at Galleria Nicolas, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City. The show runs until Nov. 26.
Benito presents flat renderings of transportation scenes. Using a bright palette, Benito’s works display fiesta panoramas and classical scenes that demonstrate her technique. Dominated by that same idyllic glow that exemplifies top genre artists like Angelito Antonio, Antonio Austria or Mario Parial, but adapted to suit a contemporary aesthetic style, Benito shows that she has mastered a classical Philippine art tradition.
Taking a cue from her own life growing up in the rural community of Pakil in Laguna, Benito’s canvases are examples of folk life simplified. Always in abundance in her joyful works of art are happy and idyllic figures that Benito paints in a colorful, attractive and cheerful way.
As a young artist, Benito has carefully grown and matured from being an apprentice to her husband, Filipino surrealist, Jerry Morada. She has, however, quickly discovered her own style, technique and palette of colors. Benito’s talent for observing the world surrounding her started as a child watching her artist father work on paintings of movie billboards. But, whatever she picked up from her father, her husband and other Laguna artists, ended there.
For information, call 625-0273, SMS 0915-4145502, email gallerianicolas@gmail.com or visit www.gallerianicolas.com.