MANILA – Appropriating the mystical accord of creation, Joe Geraldo recreates life out of terra cotta to articulate known biblical narratives about the creation of life – that the first man was made of out clay. In his language of form, he evokes plastic visions of mythology or spiritual truth while also turning to his ideas of the divine forces in his clay sculptures; they become physical manifestations of his faith revealed only by his own hands.
Turning soil found under Geraldo’s own feet into shapely mass of art has been his creative commitment that mainly defined much of his career. His dexterous intervention meeting the tactile pleasures and the sensuous manipulation of clay together produce these vigorous corporeal forms, dramatic figures of terra cotta with absolute pitch of dignity and ceaseless curiosity. In the promptings of his unconscious and fertile interventions, he shapes his sculptures with connected limbs, tangled bodies, all forming visible contours of unnatural collocations of the human form with palpable dramatic and robust gestures and in various scales and orientations.
Geraldo is an accomplished sculptor as seen in his consistent production and accomplishments in various national prizes. He has been a Juror’s Choice in the Philippine National Art Awards for in for two consecutive years 2013-14. He has also been exhibited in major venues locally, most of them in Bacolod and Dumaguete, twice at the Alliance Francaise de Manille and in an exhibition at the Ayala Museum. Among the creative communities and affiliations which he actively engages with include the Art Association of Bacolod (AAB), Kasamahan ng mga Artisan Mulat ang Isip (KAMI), Art Association of Talisay (ATA) Signus of Negros.
Human Sa Lokat will be on view from Sept 27 to October 8, 2014. YSOBEL art gallery is open Monday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
For more information, contact Mark Tiongco at mark.sancheztiongco@gmail.com; 09285071117.
