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
