Pow Marin
Exhibition opening
Sunday, November 22, 2020 | 2 – 6pm
Secret Fresh Gallery
Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Ave, 1502 San Juan, Philippines
Pow Marin opens a new solo exhibition where he continues to chronicle life amid the ongoing pandemic, creating works that express his personal experience and at the same time situating the public health crisis within the current Philippine political climate. Look Over There consists of pieces that revolve around the idea of distraction, captured in the artist’s visual imprint of crisp, linear compositions in vibrant colors laid over with neatly arranged patterns of dots and orbs. Like in a previous series, goldfishes reappear as recurring images to suggest indoor confinement, which the artist likens to the daily existence of the popular household aquarium pet. Some works depict the ways people have sought distractions to cope with stress and anxiety in the prolonged quarantine, and how, at the same time, the quarantine has removed distractions in the old normal that prevented many from doing or accomplishing things. More works involve references to recent controversies and political developments that transpired in the country, which can be viewed as forms of distractions from the more pressing task of addressing the pandemic situation, and have opened up questions on concerns and priorities.
A graduate of Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Advertising from the Technological University of the Philippines, Pow Marin received citations from several art competitions before bagging the Grand Prize of the 2016 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence for Oil/Acrylic category. His works mostly drawn from personal memories and experiences are vivid illustrations of themes such as gender identity and family affairs, with forms animated by fields of colors and sumptuous patterns inspired by underwater bio-diversity. Ortigas Avenue, San Juan City, in cooperation with The Working Animals Art Projects.
This show is curated by Ruel Caasi, in collaboration with the Secret Fresh Gallery X The Working Animals Art Projects (TWA).
