CONFLUENCE (5th One Man Exhibition)

Text by Jef Cablog

Back in August 2015, my artwork “LUSH” was chosen by FIFIG (Festival International du Film Insulaire) as the banner artwork for their annual Film Festival which featured the Philippine islands during that year. As part of their program, I was invited to attend and have an artist residency and an exhibition thereafter. The trip was made possible with the support of Alliance Francaise-Manila, the French Embassy and NCCA. My artist residency in Ile de Groix, Brittany in the northwesternmost region of France lasted until October 2015. It was me and my wife’s first time to travel to Europe and for an artist, it was an ecstatic, memorable and priceless experience.

Pierre Bernardo once said, “To Travel is to Evolve”. To be exposed to the French culture, having had the chance to marvel at European art from paintings and sculptures of famous masters to historic structures and buildings, and to see for the first time the colors of autumn, provided great inspiration and growth in me as an artist.

In “Confluence”, people will see my transformation and the influence of my travels in France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain in my subjects and color palette and the improvement in technique with the use of palette knife with teeth/grooves. After my residency, I also challenged myself to move out of my comfort zone and use non-traditional media, the use of plastic waste mainly bottle caps and found objects in my mixed media art came as a result.

Here's a peek at the opening reception which took place last March 7, 2018, 6:30pm at Alliance Francaise de Manille, 209 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel-Air II, Makati City, Philippines. My wife and I, would like to thank the Executive Director of Alliance Francaise de Manille, Mr. Jean-Pierre Dumont and staff; His Excellency Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines and his lovely wife; Ms. Susanne Tiausas, Chief Operations Officer of Galerie Francesca Inc. and staff; and to Mr. Ricky Francisco who wrote the exhibit text and did a great job curating the exhibit.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Dumont, Executive Director of Alliance Francaise de Manille

His Excellency Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines

Ms. Susanne Tiausas of Galerie Francesca presenting catalogues of my previous solo exhibitions to the French Ambassador

with collector of "PRISTINE" 

who also acquired "PURPLE"; with Ms. Susanne Tiausas Chief Operations Officer of Galerie Francesca, Inc.

CONFLUENCE Exhibit Catalogue signing

with collector of "RIPPLE"

who also acquired "HOWL III"

with collector of "GAZE"

with collector

with my family

with collectors 

with Galerie Francesca staff

PRISTINE | 60" x 48" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

Europe creates an impression as if you have travelled in the past, some of the structures seem preserved and untouched by modernization. In addition, there is also harmony between the old and the new, and of man-made structures and nature.

DRUID | 48" x 36" | Oil on canvas | 2017 

RELIC | 22" x 18" | Oil on canvas | 2017 

In Europe you get to see a lot of sculptures, relics reminding us of a very rich history and past.

HOWL | 16" x 20" | Oil on canvas | 2017

The “HOWL series” seem to be warnings for a culture at risk of being lost, or of a culture asking us to look into the root causes of the problems of our overconsumption, which have not been a problem before, but which has become the main determinant of our survival as a species. - Ricky Francisco

HOWL III | 18" x 22" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

GAZE | 22" x 18" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

PURPLE | 22" x 18" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

RIPPLE | 32" x 24" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

Our traditional culture fades like ripples on water.

RIPPLE II | 32" x 24" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

STERN | 60" x 48" | Oil on canvas | 2017 | Private Collection, Philippines

A considerable amount of our plastic wastes end up into our oceans and its inhabitants suffer interminable consequences. “FIN” series is my way of giving emphasis and attention to the suffering inhabitants of our oceans. It is also in support of France’s move in 2016 as the first country to pass a new law (which will take effect in 2020) to ensure all plastic cups, cutlery and plates can be composted and are made of biologically-sourced materials.

SETTLE | 18" x 22" | Oil on canvas | 2017 

“Fin series” focuses on how animals of the seas end up swallowing plastics, either killing them, or causing problems for us when we eat fish with microplastics in them."-Ricky Francisco

FIN 2 | 25" x 25" x 5.5" | Mixed Media | 2017

FIN 4 | 25.4" x 21" x 4.13" | Mixed Media | 2017

FIN 3 | 25" x 25" x 4.33" | Mixed Media | 2017

CORAL | 18.5" x 12.5" x 4.33" | Mixed Media | 2017

FIN 5 | 25" x 25" x 5.5" | Mixed Media | 2017

CONFLUENCE runs from March 7 to April 20, 2018 at the Alliance Francaise de Manille.  For inquiries, please call 02-895-7585, e-mail: info@alliance.ph or visit" www.alliance.ph