Galerie Francesca Booth B5 | SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, BGC, Taguig City, Philippines| October 12- 15, 2017
We
consume or use up food and things and those that are no longer useful or
wanted, our excesses and waste are being
thrown away without being fully aware of where it goes and the impact it has on
plants and animals and on Earth as a whole.
When
I decided to experiment with mixed media, I wanted to challenge myself to
create something out of the things that I already have at the time—my old bike
rims, plastic trash, computer parts, etc.- things that I no longer need but may
have a negative impact in nature when thrown away. As I was happy with the
result of my initial experimentation, I later on decided to use a combination
of plastic wrappers, bottle caps and plastic bottles, wire mesh, metal scraps,
bicycle rim, copper wire, glass (marbles and beads) and other found objects in
my mixed media work. I have faith that I can express myself further with this
medium since I can also further my advocacy towards the protection and
preservation of nature, by being eco-conscious.
There
is an abundance of plastic materials and plastic waste around us. But during
the initial stages of my experimentation, it was taking time before I get
enough materials to work with since I was only depending on my personal trash. So,
I started getting discarded bottle caps and plastic wrappers from relatives and
neighbors, either from their personal consumption or from the sari-sari stores
they owned. I realized, you can have an idea on a person’s lifestyle and tastes
just by looking at his trash.
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| Bottle caps of beverages consumed in 2months by a neighbor with 5 members. |
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| Initial stages of my experimentation. |
Baguio
is also known for its wag-wag or second-hand industry so it’s where I get additional
materials like old toys, kitchen utensils, women’s jewelry and accessories, buttons,
marbles and glass beads.
It
has also been a routine for me to ride my bicycle atleast twice a week as a
form of relaxation and there were times when I passed by Mt. Ulap (near PHILEX
mines), where more and more tourists have been flocking this year. I would see
a lot of discarded drinking bottles nearby the junction so I would collect the
caps as well.
When
my wife and I went to Japan for an exhibition back in May 2016, we also had
this idea to collect the plastic from the food that we consumed there. We then did
the same for our Hong Kong and Taiwan trip. I thought it would be good to add
those to my artwork since some have different writings or characters on the
plastic, proof that plastic consumption and its impact is global. As any other
tourist destinations, it is also one of the highlights to go to the local shopping
districts where you get to sample of their local food, buy souvenirs and be
exposed to the popular and material culture. It’s mind-boggling to see the
scale of shops and flock of locals and tourists and it’s difficult to fathom
the resulting amount of excess and trash thereafter.
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| Some of the plastic we collected from our trip to Taiwan last Dec. 2016 |
Due
to its many uses and advantages, plastic has become an integral part of our
lives. We can help lessen its negative impact on earth by looking for
sustainable alternatives or by reducing, re-using or recycling. I do my part
with my art.
PROPERTIES OF PLASTIC
-Plastic
is as colorful as oil paint and known for its resistance to environmental and
biological degradation.
-It’s
viscosity makes it bind with glass and metal giving more overall texture and room
for experimentation.
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Some plastic can be challenging to work with and shape. Sometimes as I continue to heat the plastic, I let it
take its form. Its malleability gives an element of play which is vital in
being an artist. When there is more play, the mind is free and there is more
room for ideas.
-Its
brilliance is further highlighted when mixed with glass and metal.
MIXED MEDIA:
RAFT SERIES AND ADRIFT:
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Trash floating on bodies of water, although colorful, has a negative impact on its inhabitants. So instead of the possibility of it floating on bodies of water, I thought of incorporating it in my artwork. With this series, I imitated the appearance of waste or garbage floating and drifting on a body of water when viewed from above (top view).
Raft
1 is actually the very first artwork I made in my mixed media series. It took
a few weeks before I actually finished it since I had to learn how I can
work with plastic and how I can successfully add glass and metal to it. |
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ACCENTUATE | 34 x 34 x 7 cm | Mixed Media | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines
By
wanting to draw attention to make
ourselves more noticeable or prominent, we
accessorize or enhance some of our body parts but
can sometimes come to a point of being excessive.
|
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SYNTHETIC | 41 x 26 cm | Mixed Media | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines
Something
made by combining different artificial substances |
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| Private Collection, Philippines | The
beginning of something which continues to develop or grow. |
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Something
that is made by combining
different things, in this case plastic,
metals, glass.
|
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| A central or most important part of something |
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I mixed various symbols which represents
the coming together of various ideologies.
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| Fish like |
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| Resembling
a bird like figure in flight |
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Private Collection, Philippines
Fian-fianilag is a term by the Ifialig (people in Barlig, Mt. Province) when they see flickering light in the rice fields, similar to St. Elmo's fire. |
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Private Collection, Philippines
Our
current perception and standards of
beauty are influenced by almost all forms of media.
Exposure to billboards and magazine advertisements
by supermodels and movies by
actors that fulfill the unrealistic media ideal of
beauty often lead to feelings of insecurity and low
self-esteem on most people. Because
of the pressure of wanting to be socially accepted
as “beautiful” or “attractive”, some people
subject themselves to drastic changes in their
diet, undergo some medical procedures or operations,
or adorn themselves with decorative or material things, sometimes to the point of extravagance
or addiction at worst, just to appear acceptable or closer to our current
society’s standards.
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Having
or suggesting qualities (such as strength and sexual energy) that are
associated with men and that are usually considered attractive in men.
OIL PAINTINGS:
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