Cris Fragata & Harold Gomez
September 8 – 30, 2022
Opening Reception
September 8 | 2:00 PM
Robinsons Place Naga
Ever wondered when did man started calling a thing or a place his own, or what progress did to keep us in cages called borders and territories? or does anyone remember the game pik6, where the players race to go around and finish the grid or playing field for the premise of conquering a part of it and call it “bahay”…where we draw a “heart” and other players are not allowed to step into…come to think of it, this game is teaching us to fight over territories and conquer and invade. This two-person exhibit on the other hand put a lighter context on the concept of territories and how this concept relates to their environment, art practice, and relationship.
FIRST POINT: Birth place, birth right. On this exhibition it features two of the head of a Bikol art group. both Bikolanos and are bound together by faith, love, and art, and both are married into it. putting it back into context, Harold Gomez and Cris Fragata-Gomez sees territories not as divisions but as blurred lines connecting cultures and all the while celebrating individuality and your place of origin. As Harold puts it, this exhibit is not a means to divide, it is a place marker of where they stand as artist and citizen. It is their source of inspiration. It is a place where they thrive and sees their opportunity to be a cultural torch bearer. Struggle is indeed a bliss going through with your loved ones.
SECOND POINT: A guarded relationship. does territorial relationship ever ring a bell? by definition it describes the kind of relationship that reinforces the commitment with each other. That whatever one does…they always return to each other. In Filipino “kung para sayo, babalik yan sayo” but what does it have to do with art? To these two artist it speaks about both their personal relationship and their ever adamant commitment to art. They may have been swayed out of art many times, but always return to their first love. This is as secure as their determination to continue their art practice and vision for Bikolano arts future.
THIRD POINT: Off to the borders. It is Harold and Cris’ dream to push Bikolano art to the limit and be of equal footing in the art world. Their works speaks of love, hope, faith… heck name every positive virtues and know this power couple had already worn it out…to put it simply, they are a positive force which also reflects in their work and practice.
This three points is the frame work for this exhibition it is the couples/ artists body and soul as a Bikolano artist. They will showcase old works that are 100% bikol made and new works tackling the myriad concept of territory. Here they celebrate territories as a point of reference, as a point of belongingness, as point of direction. Here shows that however territorial we may be there will be a force that will always break our walls every time, which we have no control over. This is also an invitation to break out of our own shells, of our own comforts. maybe that’s why in piko, we put “hearts” to remind ourselves in protecting our dreams and breaking boundaries not by force but with love.
– Vladimir Grutas
