Bear with Me
Julmard Vicente (JuVi) Solo Show
July 8-22 (Opening Reception July 11, 2026)
Art Camp, Greenbelt 5
Artist Statement/Exhibition Notes:
Some of life’s most precious things are worth protecting.
As children, we treasured our favorite toys—not because they were perfect, but because they carried memories, comfort, and imagination. We held them close, cared for them, and hoped they would last forever.
In Bear With Me, the bear and panda become symbols of that same enduring tenderness. More than playful characters, they embody kindness, innocence, friendship, love, hope, and the quiet joy of simply being together.
Wrapped in transparent plastic, these figures are not hidden—they are preserved. The wrapping becomes a metaphor for the things we choose to cherish: meaningful relationships, unforgettable memories, unwavering dreams, and the child within us that continues to believe in goodness despite the passage of time.
Throughout the exhibition, the bears smile, dance, embrace, play, and share moments of affection. Each painting celebrates the beauty of human connection, reminding us that happiness is often found in life’s simplest gestures—a smile, a warm embrace, a shared laugh, or the comforting presence of someone who chooses to stay.
The title Bear With Me carries a gentle double meaning. It speaks not only of the bears that inhabit these paintings, but also of the quiet invitation to be patient, compassionate, and present for one another. In a world that moves so quickly, perhaps the greatest gift we can offer is simply our time, our understanding, and our kindness.
Bear With Me is a celebration of love in its many forms—between friends, family, partners, and even ourselves. It reminds us that while the world constantly changes, the values that truly matter remain timeless.
May these bears remind us to protect what is precious, cherish every meaningful connection, and never lose the gentle heart that allows us to love without fear.
Because in the end, the things we choose to protect become the story of who we are.
Artist Biography
Graduated with an art degree from the University of the East in Caloocan Vicente’s skillful brushwork in figurative art focuses on movement and gestures, which evokes particular emotions and psyche. These human figures (which are either wrapped in plastic sheets or dripping in water) lend such curiosities and make powerful depictions of internal states. The physicality and tactality of his hyper realistic works are made interesting in the play of the organic nature of flesh, the synthetic qualities of plastic draping, and the flowing dreaminess of water. A sense of suffocation can be felt in his portraits covered in plastic. His portraits with dripping water resound a mien of introspection and solitude.Vicente is an artist who does not impose immediate meanings to his work but allows his audiences to freely interpret his work. As a practice, Vicente does not stick with a theme or subjects; his works are driven by intuition and pure aesthetic moments of things that interest him. Vicente has been actively involved in the local art scene and has received recognitions for his work, among them the Grand Prize at Seventh Art Petron in 2007 and winning the 3rd Place in the 2011 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence.
