Impy Pilapil’s ‘Third Moon’ rises

MANILA, Philippines - Third Moon” by Impy Pilapil was described by many guests as  “refreshing, invigorating and awakening.” To the artist, they are ideal compliments since every piece she creates is an offering.  Indeed, each artwork stirs one’s senses into higher states, away from the mundane.

Through the years of using various media ranging from paper to steel, glass, stone and wood, the element of consistency is clear and steadfast.  Silence, according to Impy, plays a big role in her creations.  “Many things from nature evolve continuously and it is a thrill to be able to quietly observe them.” One could hardly walk around, let alone take photos at the jampacked Altro Mondo Art Gallery at Greenbelt 5 during the show’s opening last Oct. 23.

It was quite an experience. The works stood out like beacons among a sea of admirers and it was not an easy task weaving around guests and patrons comprised of a veritable who’s who of the local art community.

I have been photo-documenting art events around the city for the past two years, compiling notable shows and tidbits of brilliance to share online but this opening was nothing short of inspiring.

Pilapil’s art attracts a different kind of crowd from that usual mull of traffic. There is a deeper pool of understanding in their presence. I cannot tell if it is simply the level of craftsmanship and thought that the artist has put into her work that has such a positive impact on people’s minds, or perhaps satisfied expectations in seeing something new and fresh each time. 

Multiple reflective surfaces of the artworks played little tricks on my camera. According to the artist’s printed statement, they represent the “mirroring” one experiences through the passing of one’s Third Moon cycle. I have shot her works before and I am familiar with the nature of stainless steel’s difficulty to photograph but the lighting and the sheer number of attendees have added a colorful playfulness to the usually austere character of metal.  

In stark contrast to the steel’s reflective characteristics, there are two specific works of pure color that flank the collection. One is a luminous projection of gradated, glorious pink from the gallery’s east side, and an onslaught of majestic blue from the opposite end. These are two large frames of wooden relief reminiscent of alien landscapes much like the ones in epic science-fiction and fantasy films. Both are accented by steel in various forms — “signifying the forces between the earth and the cosmos at work.”

Meanwhile, on three different plinths stand delicate sculptures of steel, cradling spheres of clear glass like swirls from a sorcerer’s wand. Mounted on clear transparent pillars with air bubbles frozen in their ascent, one cannot help be reminded of a burst of energy — be it from water, or ideas from one’s mind. 

I wish I could have taken more detailed photos of the works but the crush of people dominated every bit of space of the gallery. I will definitely come back to shoot some more and perhaps soak in the serenity that comes with the artist’s works that ironically was eclipsed by the festive celebration of her avid supporters.