|
FEATI University School of Fine Arts mounts exhibit at the NCCA
The FEATI University School of Fine Arts held “Constructing Secrets, Thoughts and Memories: Aspects of Postmodern Practice”, an “exhibition of modern and postmodern art works” at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery at Intramuros, Manila on January 15 to 31.
The exhibit featured the collaborative work of FEATI Fine Arts students and faculty as well as guest artists Josephine Turalba, Jamel Obnamia, Raul Rodriguez and Ronn dela Cruz. Most of the art pieces displayed were acrylics and oils on canvas, sketches, pencil drawings, photos and art installations. Favored subjects were pop icons and animé characters.
In his curator's note, FEATI Fine Arts faculty member Neil Dela Cruz, himself an exhibitor, wrote: "This exhibition is a continuous exploration of art-making parallel to constant search for visual expression. A search where temporal becomes permanent, where common images become profound assertion of one’s being and a vehicle in conveying subliminal thoughts, memories and secrets into pictures of one’s consciousness, who we are and what we want to represent in art-making.”
FEATI University President Dr.-Ing Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez and School of Fine Arts Associate Dean Ms. Janice L. Young headed the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At the opening of the exhibit, National Artist for Theater and NCCA Executive Director Cecile Guidote-Alvarez encouraged the artists to maximize their potential and achieve beyond just gaining fame and wealth. She emphasized that since art exists within the context of a culture, they should create art that is rooted in deep social awareness, striving for, among others the survival of society through the preservation of the environment. Remarks made even more relevant since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had recently declared the Philippines as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cultural Center for 2010.
One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was the performance art by guest interdisciplinary installation artist Josephine Turalba and Dela Cruz. Together they performed a mixed media performance entitled "Diwata," where Turalba was seen wearing a robe made of empty shotgun shells leaning on a pole of which the other end was being supported by Dela Cruz's feet. As their performance progressed with clips from the movie "Berlin: Symphonie of a Great City" as the backdrop, Turalba is seen as slowly falling as Dela Cruz slowly shifts his stance away from her. In the last scene, Dela Cruz suddenly walks away; letting the pole crash down along with Turalba falling flat onto the floor with both arms flailing.
"Diwata is a multilayered investigation of the discord between the historical document and the actual experiences of the past time. It is both reconciliation and a vexation, both a healing and a wounding," said Turalba in a statement.
“Diwata” thus set the tone for the ground-breaking postmodern exhibit of the FEATI School of Fine Arts. (KAL)
|
