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| Ikaw ang pag-asa, ikaw, ang paglaya at ang buhay sa pakikibaka. Oil in Canvas. Ang Pilapil. 2020 |
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| Color Study |
Apr 14, 2023
BANYUHAY, A Work in Progress
Jul 30, 2022
NOTES FOR— An exhibition, SHE RAGE by Laki Mata
SHE RAGE
Hear her, breathe in, breath out— heavy grip in her fingers as she clenches her heart. Since when do you see her surrender, or have you been witnessing her at her worst, the times she would try to conquer the pain, the times she would be so eloquent of being vulnerable. She's not merely feminine, she's livid too. Perhaps, a thought so normal yet indifferent, for every one, to manifest. The female poise and self-control endure no limitations. And her strong subconscious defines her short. When she's raging, watch closely.
Out of her body, embers in her bones, flaring amongst fragile feelings. She sets herself aflame but she never draws power from rage. The machismo society belittled her with restrictive expectations. That she must be humble, composed, or well-mannered etc. But these notions were eradicated when she spoke and stood up. Women seething is a confrontation. She's showing rage as a normal sentiment to evoke, a woman raging is not a cliché, that rage is a part of human nature. She is passionate, she is weary, she is spontaneous, she is emotional, she is fearful, she is fierce, she is melancholic, she is bold, she is unforgiving— she is owning her emotions. Anger is a response from deeper, underlying emotions, a response to our sense of self. Such anger is an uncomfortable place where she feels safe. Exploring the source of our emotions awakens us to a most profound love. We allow anger.
We think women should be tamed, but we don't condemn women the decision to be true to herself, to feel intensely.
Jun 25, 2022
NOTES FOR— A Solo Exhibition, Daloy 2022
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| Oil Painting by Clint Rey Policarpio. Poster Art by Laki Mata |
Apoy ang kulay ng ating dugo dahil may init na dumadaloy sa ating puso.
Ikaw ang pinagmulan, hinulma sa lahing Pilipino, at tulad ng ginto, may kislap ang iyong pagkatao!
Nakaguhit sa mga ngiti ang gaan at lalim ng iba’t ibang mga kwento.
Tumitig ka sa silid ng manlilikha na may dibuho’t aninag na may dibuho ng iyong mundo.
Libutin mo ang payapa at maligayang paligid na natatakpan ng puti at bughaw na langit.
Sa’yong bayan may puwang ang halaga ng pamilya, araw-araw may pagmamahalan.
Magmula man sa payak na probinsya ng Pangasinan o sa lansangan ng Kamaynilaan,
Bawat isa gumagalaw at totoong masasaya, lahat may kasaysayan.
Hango sa tunay na damdamin, sa di malimot na karanasan, muling nailalarawan ang ganda at sigla ng buhay.
Nadarama sa indak ng mga kulay at linya ang halina ng lahing may saya, may hiwaga, may laya.
Ang yaman at talas ng isang pamayanan ay nauunawaan sa kanyang simpleng pamumuhay.
Ito ang iyong tahanan— simple at masaya. Hindi nasusukat ang ganda ng kalupaan sa pisikal na katangian, kundi sa tinataglay nitong mga kwento.
Pinagpala sa kayamanang mula sa lupa at mula sa mga puso, saan mang dako ay matatagpuan ang pagmamahalan, pagkakaisa, at busilak na kasiyahan.
Nananalaytay sa kanyang dugo ang bangis at pag-ibig ng kanyang lahi patungo sa mga taong ginuhit at mga alaalang nabuhay— dumadaloy hanggang sa diwa ng mga nakadarama.
Ang sayang dulot nang unang mabasa ng tubig, ang bighani ng mga alon sa dagat, ang paghalik ng liwanag ng langit sa kanyang hangganan, at ang simoy ng tubig-alat sa may baybayin.
Ang hingang-malalim sa pagtalon sa ilog at paglimlim sa may kubling bakawan. Sa kabilang ibayo, madidinig ang talsik ng mga kaliskis ng isda at mga laway mula sa mga tindera sa talipapa. Lapit ka, suki!
Ang indayog ng bisig at tindig ng mga pamilyang maralita sa may iskinita. Ang sabik na puso nang magsalu-salo sa mga tanging pagdiwang— ang piyesta, ang simbang gabi, ang silakbo ng damdamin sa daluyong ng masa.
Ang hampas ng kanilang katawan ay kasabay ng mga nagsasayawang halaman, habang nalilipad ang halimuyak ng mga dahon. Ang pagbati ng liwayway sa madaling araw na humahaplos sa sanga ng mga puno.
Ilan sa mga pangyayaring ito ang tatak ng Pilipinas, ito ang haraya ng nagpipinta.
Samu’t saring mga ideya na bumubuo sa isang tanawin.
Kasama ng pamilyar na masa sa sentrong tagpuan—kumikilos, sumasayaw, naglalakad, umaawit, nangungusap, sumisigaw, nagmamasid, at umiibig—dama mong ikaw ay kabilang.
Tumingin ka’t bumisita paparoon. Sariwain ang iyong pandama. Doon sa loob ay may sining, bumabati ang nagpipintang si C. Policarpio sa gilid, ang kanyang asawa’t anak, at sa loob ng kanyang sining ay nabubuhay ang malawak na mga gunita. Siyang nabubuhay sa nakaraan at sa kasalukuyan.
Ang mga likha ay isang tanawin ng kamalayang kayumanggi. Hindi lamang larawan, ito’y paalala sa kagandahan ng kagawian na dumaan at patuloy na sumisibol, bago pa man lumipas ang araw, at ang kabihasnan.
Sa paglakbay niya sa iba’t ibang panahon at pagbalik-tanaw sa mga pook at pangyayari ay unti unting nalilikha ang isang mundong mapagpalaya.
Walang malungkot, walang nag-iisa. Ang lahat ay may ngiti at magkakasama.
Gamit ang sining ay naibabahagi ang kanyang paglalakbay, gayundin ang paglalakbay ng mga kwento ng lahi para sa pagkilala at higit na pag-unawa.
Isang salamin sa dumadaloy na kamalayan. Hindi natatapos ang paglikha.
Layon ng pintor na muling mailantad at maimulat ang bagong bayan sa kaluluwa ng kanyang kalinangan na minana sa mayamang kasaysayan, kaugalian, kalikasan, at pagkakakilanlan.
Nagmumula sa lahat ng mga nilalang ng Diyos ang tagumpay ng bayan, kung saan ang paligid ay nabubuhay at ang tao’y magkakaugnay.
Sa daloy ng pintura at likas na talino ng manlilikha naisasalaysay ang kagandahan at kabuluhan ng isang pamayanan.
Bahagi ka ng kanyang mundo— kapwa Pilipino kang isinilang sa paraiso.
OVERVIEW
When Clint first explored the province of Pangasinan, he was fascinated by the beauty of everyday scenes of rural Filipino life. He’s enamored by the charm and composite picture of the countryside that he would daydream about it for hours. Although he spent his childhood in the province, he was born in Olongapo City and also experienced the inexplicable life in Manila during his teenage years. From the streets of Recto and Doroteo Jose, to the alleyway of Malabon and Valenzuela City, he became exposed to the boon and bane of Metropolitan settlement. Living and visiting different cities in the country enabled him to weave unfiltered stories and a distinct language from his personal memoirs through his canvas. There are fond memories of feelings, of traditions, of daily practices, and of simple interactions that he would be able to conceive later into art. This is the joy of discovery and journey, the peace of new found purpose, and his earnest hope to convey more than just nostalgia. Through the eyes of Clint Rey Policarpio, we are able to perceive and reawaken our inner sense of belonging to nature, and to the commotion of masses in the urban landscape. The shapes and the flow of colors evokes the warmth of life amidst a busy or serene background. As viewers and mere characters of the masterpieces, we embody the instinctual ecstasy and calmness of the moment, and envelop our subconscious self to a new world. This familiar world is imagined not only to represent a visual portrait, but also to remind us of the collective spirit of Filipino experiences that have passed and that continue to live on.
Daloy is the first solo exhibition of Clint Rey Policarpio. The Cultural Center of the Philippines debuts a collection of his works from 2012 to the present that depicts an understanding of a lively Filipino community, with its rich history, nature, customary beliefs, and personality. Filipino art and culture are huge influences in his works, where concepts manifesting the life of its people and its surroundings flourish and continue to evolve. Different scenes can be seen from a whole picture. Baguio and Panginoon ko ang Dagat, Ulap, Bundok at mga Puno (I worship the Sea, Sky, Mountain and the Trees) tell individual narratives that complete story to a zoning point of view. Each piece portrays a novel of its own. The impact of temporal experiences, of what’s seen and what’s felt, forms an inspiration for his lasting compositions—detailing scenic impressions of places, events, and Filipino practices in a purely panoramic view, while also leaving more to the imagination.
C. Policarpio seeks to feel yet again the wandering ether and the majestic trees of the past in the same way that he celebrates and interprets them. Art relates understanding. With the power of art, he shares a mutual connection with his surrounding and the cultures he absorbed. In a time when commercial expansion and political crisis is inevitable, as people forget their values and beautiful customs, the artist retells the stories of a colorful identity, the optimism, beauty, diligence, unity, and the resilience of the Philippines. His strong sense of nationalism flows eloquently to the soul of the viewer in a meta-art. His most remarkable style is the self-reflective paintings with an overlying montage of different paradigms and moments. As spectators, we are immersed in the artist’ studio— the world where the paintings convey an interpretation of the real world according to his view, within another layer of painting that we’re able to see in the foreground. His signature persona is illustrated in every rightmost corner of his works. His artistic freedom brings the beauty of Filipino art to the new generation, to nurture, and to create more. Painting is his most significant way to create larger than life art that exudes life. He dreams of creating monumental art pieces for the society to see and enjoy.
The sight of a smile filled with stories, the Pacific blue ocean, the lush mangroves, the grandiose festivities, the tight-knit families and the golden ray of a setting sun shall all remind you of a one-of-a-kind life that existed before us and continuously coexists with us.
He is a Filipino. And this is an open memoir for the Filipino people.
