Mike Garcia | Anathomism

Exhibit opens: September 7, 2016
Exhibit ends: October 7, 2016

Opening reception: Wednesday, September 7, 2016 7-10 PM

Kulay-Diwa
Gallery of Philippine Contemporary Art
25 Lopez Avenue, Lopez Village, Sucat, Paranaque City, Metro Manila 1700 Philippines

www.kulaydiwa.com

Admission: free, open to the public

Anathomism: A Synthesis of Anatomy, Thomism and Animism

In his search for the sacred, Mike Garcia deconstructs spirituality, rituals and age-old beliefs in his first one-man show in Manila entitled ANATHOMISM.

This exhibit, which opens on September 7 at the Kulay-Diwa Gallery of Philippine Contemporary Art in Sucat, Parañaque, is a window into Garcia’s personal faith journey, with animism and Thomism emerging as core concepts.

Animism, the world’s most primitive belief, has shaped countless religions to varying degrees. Derived from the Latin word anima, which means “breath” or “soul,” it attributes a spiritual essence to animals, plants and inanimate objects — non-human entities that affect human interests and affairs, and whose spirits may be malevolent, benevolent or neutral. In most religions, powerful supernatural beings in the forms of nature deities, or gods or goddesses, are worshipped as well and are called on in times of need.

Thomism, a school of thought inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas, influenced Garcia’s spirituality to a great extent. Garcia hailed from University of Santo Tomas, where he was introduced to and started following the teachings of Aquinas, such as the doctrine of the Trinity, in which the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit according to Aquinas represent relationships that occur within God.

Garcia ties in both animism and Thomism with anatomy by building his creations around human and animal forms. This flesh-and-bones style reflects the careful study that goes into the rendering of every principle (and its internal structure) depicted in the collection. the exhibit features graphite and oil on paper artworks. it dissects spiritual beliefs and principles of local and universal communities in a bold and insightful approach. Garcia hails from Palawan, and is one of the first Palaweno artists to have won as a regional winner for Luzon in the recent Philippine Art Awards.