Gabriel “Diko” Tiongson
Artists Reception
March 9, 2024 | 4 PM
Space Encounters Gallery
Unit 7D, 7th Floor, Padilla Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Centre, 1605 Pasig
It is an oxymoron that carries conflicting meanings and relies on experience and point of view to understand its subtleties. It may be too simplistic to see negativity as purely bad and positivity to be inherently good. The individual then will have to deliberately perform a balancing act to see the real impact of the good and the bad and how they could co-exist.
In Gabriel “Diko” Tiongson’s solo exhibition, “Positive Negativity,” the artist continues the narrative initiated in his previous exhibition, “Critical Hit,” which delved into the experience of trauma. Here, the central theme revolves around processing trauma, echoing the sentiment of turning adversity into concrete steps toward restoration of self. Diko explores the idea that confronting and understanding past traumas is crucial to preventing their recurrence.
A notable style formally introduced in this show is the incorporation of nailed borders in the paintings, a technique previously seen in recent exhibitions. These protruding nails symbolize the pain that an individual carries, hammered into the psyche. However, as the show centers on the process of healing and growth, the nails transform into a metaphorical armor, serving as a reminder to remain vigilant against harmful influences.
The artworks themselves contain a powerful message, with the application of spray paint varying in technique and style across different pieces representing fluctuating emotions. Bright colors and cartoon imagery, hallmarks of the Diko’s visual language, are employed to express trauma in a vibrant and paradoxically childish manner. Like the title, it’s this kind of contrast, this particular irony that propels Diko’s art to the more personal.
He also introduces a new medium by incorporating leather, inspired by Space Encounters’ exploration of leather in interior design and furniture making. Using a burner to etch designs onto the leather, the artist metaphorically scars the material, symbolizing the process of healing and learning from past experiences.
“Positive Negativity” is all about transformation. When life gives the artist lemons or a curveball, he makes art. Art that chronicles his journey from realization to putting the pieces back together to create a new whole.
Gabriel Tiongson, affectionately known as Diko. His artistic journey began in the vibrant atmosphere of Iloilo City, Philippines, in the 90s, influenced by television, cartoons, toys, and computer games. Despite initially pursuing Physical Therapy, a chance encounter in 2010 propelled him into the art world, immersing him in Manila’s lively art scene. In 2014, he moved to Auckland, New Zealand, for formal education in visual arts, earning a master’s degree in creative practice. His early works focused on character drawings with ink on paper, evolving over time to incorporate paint and abstract forms while maintaining his signature style of rounded shapes, bright colors, and flowing lines. The years from 2020 to 2023 posed personal and artistic challenges for Tiongson, reflected in his recent works featuring characters with a dark sense of humor. Through his art, he finds healing and transformation, embracing a journey of renewal and self-discovery.
Thor G. Balanon
