The theater of Michelline Syjuco’s mind at Firma

MANILA, Philippines - “I had a very clear idea of what I wanted from the start,” says the experimental sculptor and jewelry artist Michelline Syjuco, best known in elite art and fashion circles for her bold and daring flights of fantasy. “It was the elaborate detailing and finishing that took up all of my time and attention,” referring to the rings, bracelets, necklaces, and bags that comprise her first solo exhibit for Firma, opening on Feb. 13 at Greenbelt 3. 

Aptly titled “Theater of the Mind,” the exhibition showcases the multi-awarded Michelline’s radical new creations which include her Yorrick series of painstakingly hand-carved and hand-embellished skull handbags which have the option of being displayed as art objet on stands specially designed by the artist with their own lighting.  Just like her other signature pieces, they cross the line between exhibit-able art and wearable fashion. 

The exhibition was planned by the artist together with Firma proprietors Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre in 2012 when the artist had already been experimenting on various forms and finishes.  Getting to work on the collection for most of last year, a December date was set but she still was not satisfied with some pieces that she felt needed further refinement, not to mention that there were new designs that she still wanted to execute. 

Work is done by Michelline in their family compound where she has a studio and  workshop. The artist’s haven is anchored by the Art Lab Gallery, founded by her parents, experimental artists Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco who have nurtured their daughter’s creativity since early childhood.  At age four, she was the country’s youngest painter to be exhibited in the juried Annual Exhibition of the Art Association of the Philippines. As a high school student, she turned to singing and writing music and became the lead vocalist and guitarist of the acclaimed band Faust!. After college, she began creating fashion accessories and jewelry which actually had its beginnings when she was designing clothes and accessories for her band.

The turning point in her career, however, came in 2008 when she had her first exhibition, “Armadillon,” which featured 88 pieces of wearable sculptures presented as elements in huge mixed media art installations that included her large-scale sculptures. This collection garnered critical acclaim and was included in the 2009 Ateneo Art Awards — a first for Philippine jewelry design. Ever since, Michelline has come to be known for her intelligent, often astounding works, with their powerful roots in Neo-Surrealism and Neo-Dada, and have been described as “flights of phantasmagoria, dark comedy and the absurd.”

Some of these sculptures are in the gallery together with more recent works that act as counterpoint to her parent’s paintings and installations. A bridge from the exhibition hall connects to Michelline’s work area where she forges each piece herself by hand.  She has always been known for her use of unconventional elements such as cultivated rust, gnarly pearls, exploded bullet shells, acetylene burns, crushed tin cans, multicolor acid patinas and strange rocks from outer space. 

For this new collection, she chose to work with materials that are no less unusual like hand-carved 100 year old wood, antique watch parts, steel spikes, prefabricated hardware and exotic gemstones.  The spirit is just as bold and avant-garde but with a new level of refinement. “The one-of-a-kind Yorick skull bags alone took months to get the right shape, fit and closure, plus the automotive paint finish and embellishment with hardware” according to the artist.  “And just when the exterior was done, there was the interior finish of the bag which had to be worked on to give it the luxe feel.” 

The skull bags have “mini-me” versions in rings embellished with gemstones.  There are other modern day talismans like necklaces and rings with serpents and a “Gilded Crown” bracelet with roses and dragon claws. Fashion and art aficionados have many more surprises to discover in  the exhibit which the artist has dubbed as “a show of mystery, mysticism and the absurd.”

For information, call Firma at 757-4009 and 0915-7859544, or e-mail firma2@vasia.com. Firma is at the ground floor, Greenbelt 3,  Ayala Center, Makati City.