Continuing in its efforts to develop Philippine Art since its inception in the 1970s, the Sining Kamalig Art Gallery proudly presents ITUM UG PUTI, an exhibition of Contemporary Philippine Abstract Art by Dennis “Sio” Montera, Eghai Roxas, and Javy Villacin. Itum ug Puti shall open on 6PM of September 21, 2010. Itum ug Puti is the Cebuano term for “black and white”, which aptly describes the color scheme being pursued by these artists, all of whom could claim an intimate connection to the Queen Island of the South. For Dennis Montera and Javy Villacin, Cebu is both home and place of work, being professors of fine arts at the University of the Philippines Cebu College. Eghai Roxas, on the other hand, shares a Cebuano affiliation through his family and friends. All veteran Abstractionists who have been fundamentally influenced by the pedagogical and modernist work of National Artist Dean Jose Joya, the three artists have also imbibed a strong sense of aesthetic discipline in Abstraction that is anchored on Asian sensibilities of peace, tranquillity, and nature, while still imbibing the emotional force and modern energy of Western Abstraction. Utilizing the monochromatic palette, the three artists also situate their work within the Asian tradition of calligraphic painting, as well as focusing on their own individual visions of achieving a unique realization of Abstract Art. For Roxas, Abstraction is a means of pulling the distinction between illusion and reality into sharp focus using his trademark shadows on gestural strokes. For Montera, it is the calligraphic rendition of modern life as a tense balance between structure and chaos. Finally, for Villacin, the achievement of personal peace through the exploration of metaphysical energies grounded in Tantric philosophy, and shaped by Vitruvian principles of proportion and balance becomes a statement of humanity reaching for karmic release. Taken together, the three artists of Itum ug Puti showcase the possibilities of Philippine Abstraction as a force to reckon in the contemporary art scene.

Itum ug Puti shall be on view at the Sining Kamalig Art Gallery from September 21 to October 9, 2010. Sining Kamalig Art Gallery is located at the fourth level, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. For more details on the exhibition, kindly contact Mr. Simoun Balboa at Tel. # 401-3457, or email at siningkamalig@gmail.com.