Virtual Art Exhibition
September 15 to 30, 2020
Daloy-Likha Art & Nature Hub
Lucban, Quezon Province, Region IV-A, Philippines
Linang: Kalikasan at Paglikha – in the fertile minds of Filipino artists
By Noel Sales Barcelona
Linang is the Tagalog term that means the land cleared and prepared for tilling. It is also the root word of linangan, which means a school or a center for learning; linangin, to develop; and kalinangan, culture.
Amid the global Covid19 pandemic, 50 seasoned artists have decided to gather themselves together, in the spirit of creativity, of hope, and unity, and organized an online exhibit, which they titled Linang: Kalikasan at Paglikha. It is their means of honoring the beauty and creative power of Mother Nature, which is the fountain of all inspiration, while acknowledging the potential of human creativity to transform a negative situation like this pandemic into something beautiful and uplifting, something that truly connect to the human heart and soul.
Organized by the upcoming art and nature hub in Lucban, Quezon – Daloy-Likha – also a non-profit organization in the making, Linang: Kalikasan at Paglikha showcases the work of 50 artists from different parts of the Pearl of the Orient and even abroad – Noel P. Bueza, Celso Pepito, ANeil Res Folloso PM, Raymundo Reyes Gozon, Lex Gozon, Pauline Juliet Blazo Racelis, Mark Milcky Lagdameo Almadin, Hilario Barrozo, Irvyn Roxas, Jake Catah, Jerson A Jus, Mario Madridejos, Joel Masaya, Manuel Sinquenco, Emmanuel Nim, Lito Brion Ballaran, Melo Valencia, Louinuel C. Babia, Roy Babia, Jonathan Jalac, Wilfredo L. Rufon, Ayelah Deveza, Farah De Ontiveros, Tristan Bamba, Mary Yari Roces, Jet Rai, Avie Abadilla Lafuente, Vicson Apostol, Joseph Albao, Eric Madrigal Masangkay, Darwin Japat Guevarra, Melchor Rosales Sabariza, Henri Cainglet, Jezir Nalam Lascuña, Harold Gomez, Cris Fragata Gomez, Nante Carandang, Eman Santos, Ysa Gernale, Marlene Ayen Galit, Ronwaldo Dasal, Yel Cast, Chressa Yee Rufon, Elisa Rufon, Gary Miclat Cabling, Herminigildo Pineda, Carlos Alferez Castro, Ramon Cajipe, Edward De Castro, Bernardo Oronos, Janet Arboleda-Ballece, and Aanne Renales.
Just like the fertile land of the Bueza farm in Sitio Kalantibang in Brgy. Malupak, in the historic town of Lucban, Quezon which Daloy-Likha calls home – the exhibit is but a concrete manifestation of the fertile minds of the Filipino as artists. Their works are the fruits of that orchard of creativity, honed and developed overtime. They were the golden grains that wave whenever kissed by the gentle breeze of inspiration and the sturdy trees heavy with fruits of beauty and wonder. It is the meadow and the forest that represent the depth of wisdom, the burning passion, and love, and even the pain and longing of the artist. Their works are the places and the nook where you can find yourself – and lost it at the same time. Just like what the mystic Thomas Merton has said:
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
More so, the exhibit is like the river that runs into the lake inside the Daloy-Likha farm and nourishes the land therein – showing the fluidity of the participating artists when it comes to creating a painting or a sculpture. With the dust accumulating in our lives brought by the crisis, personal problems, and other burdens – it seems that it serves as clear water stream, where you can refresh yourself. As Pablo Picasso puts it: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” And so is this virtual exhibit.
The spring of beauty honoring life, hope, and nature runs from September 15 to 30.
Noel Sales Barcelona is a writer, editor, mystic, poet, and development and cultural worker based in Antipolo City in Rizal, Luzon Philippines. He authored three coffee table book about Filipino artists and currently writing another one. He is one of the founders of Daloy-Likha, alongside with Noel P. Bueza.
