John Marin
Opening
8 November 2020
Secret Fresh Gallery
Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Ave, 1502 San Juan, Philippines
John Marin presents a new set of works in a solo exhibition to open this November. In this show,he once again engages with landscapes as a form of meditation on life’s enigmas and attempts by spiritual and philosophical traditions to make sense of these riddles. The collection of paintings consists of views of woodlands in his characteristic monochromatic palette that relies on tonal nuances and texture,framed not to reveal expansive vistas but to highlight footpaths on the ground.
Through these winding trails,he conveys the act of homecoming—which can variously mean concluding a day’s toil, a relief from a long journey, a return to one’s point of origin, or reconnecting with a beginning. In life’s terms, these paths may signify returning to the source or reaching an ultimate destination.
A graduate of advertising from the Technological University of the Philippines, John Marin produces works that mainly deal with traditions of spirituality, reflections on existence and the individual’s place in the cosmos, and questions about the self, collective, and identities. He renders his creations mostly on a monochromatic color scheme—producing a dramatic effect at times while in other instances creating a mood that invites reflection and contemplation.
This show is curated by Ruel Caasi, in collaboration with the Secret Fresh Gallery X The Working Animals Art Projects (TWA).
