MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Altro Mondo Art Contemporanea is proud to present three exhibits that showcase the beautiful and terrifying power of nature. “Alarming X Surrealista,” a two-man exhibition featuring the works of Mark Belicario & Maria Francisca Juarez, “An Adventure of a Lifetime,” a solo exhibition featuring the works of Jeffrey Gumlao, and “Life in Colors,” a solo exhibition featuring the works of Keith Paras at the Altro Mondo Creative Space (1159 Chino Roces Ave. San Antonio Village, Makati City) will run until July 30.
Alarming X Surrealista brings together Mark Belicario and Maria Francisca Juarez, two seemingly disparate artists whose work is underpinned by fear of and fascination with nature’s ability to at once consume yet sustain us.
Mark Belicario exorcises his fear of the ocean through his compositions. Taking inspiration from the seascape masters of yore – J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and Katsushika Hokusai–Belicario renders thick tempestuous waves in his painting “Stormy Seascape,” meticulously molding every ebb and flow to his liking as a symbolic gesture of control over that which gives him anxiety and fear.
Triumph and beauty in the midst of adversity are at the heart of Maria Francisca Juarez’s work. Juarez hails from Toledo City in Cebu which, not unlike the rest of the Philippines, has experienced its fair share of natural disasters. Just last year, Juarez herself experienced the wrath of Typhoon Odette.
The destruction left in its wake inspired her to create the works included in the exhibit. Within each piece is the dichotomy of ruin and rebirth––ramshackle houses and dried earth coexist with lush greenery and vibrant hues. All this is rendered through Juarez’ vigorous brush strokes, bringing them to life with aplomb and inviting the viewer to reflect on and recognize both the terror and beauty of the world we live in.
An Adventure of a Lifetime is visual artist Jeffrey Guanlao’s creative exploration of his childhood during which he traveled extensively on his own. Art and travel served as a place of refuge for Guanlao, who would sneak out of his house to escape the fear and anger he felt as a result of his tenuous relationship with his parents.
Traveling offered Guanlao an opportunity to broaden his horizons and shape the foundations of his creative practice. Consequently, his works feature deftly rendered landscapes, picturesque natural sceneries, and otherworldly creatures based on local folklore and myths.
Guanlao’s surreal paintings are filled with the mystical and fantastical, transporting the viewer to the ethereal, sometimes nightmarish, visions straight out of the artists’ mind palace.
The lush environments Guanlao traveled to fueled his imagination and served as places of solace during difficult times. It’s during these periods that he thought of other worlds and lives beyond his own, and his art serves as a gateway to these fanciful realities.
Life In Colors is a solo exhibition featuring the works of Keith Paras.
Keith Paras is known for his delicate renderings of clusters of flowers. For his solo exhibition titled Life in Colors, he channels these proclivities on canvas once again to create vivid, multicolored odes to nature and all its beauty. Each painting is adorned with vibrant flowers: roses, peonies, chrysanthemums, and dahlias — each representing positive connotations.
Roses symbolize love, beauty, balance, passion, and wisdom, while chrysanthemums recall lasting relationships with family and friends, rest and recovery, and cheerfulness. Peonies represent honor, respect, and wealth, and dahlias signify new beginnings and triumph above challenges.
Paras purposefully chose these flowers as a means of giving hope and positivity to those who need it most. At a time when it seems that hope is fleeting, Paras seeks to bring joy and levity through his florid works of art, inviting the viewer to live not only for themselves but for the goodness of others.
Alarming x Surrealista, An Adventure of a Lifetime, and Life in Colors, will be on display at Altro Mondo Creative space until July 30. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. For inquiries, please contact them on Facebook (@altromondoart) or Instagram (@altromondoart). You may also message on Viber or WhatsApp at +63 917 888 7872.
