The newly established cultural and artistic group, Sama-sama sa Paglikha (Sanlikha) Art and Literary Society, is set to have its first group exhibition at The Art Gallery of the Philippine Heart Center on June 20, 2023, titled Artistic Sextet. Artistic Sextet will feature the works of cubist Jeffrey Doria Acero, abstractionist Obien S. Clet Jr., realists Marcial Garrovillas Orca, Julius Poquita, and Rico Tica, and modernist Delfin Tumibay.
According to the group spokesperson and vice president Obien S. Clet Jr., the exhibit celebrates unity even amid diversity.
“When we were planning this show last year, the idea was to give the audience different “flavors” by presenting them with artworks bearing different themes and rendered in different styles while keeping in our hearts and minds the reason why we create great art pieces—to glorify our Creator and to celebrate our artistic and cultural heritage,” explained Clet in a statement.
Acero, an artist from Mindanao, paints about ordinary folks and their activities and even their everyday experiences, which, according to him, is “worth celebrating.” Clet, on the other hand, focuses on creating abstracts using tilting and free-flowing methods.
Meanwhile, Orca has been known for his corn paintings that attracted the media’s and private collectors’ attention. Orca, a fisherman by day and a painter by night, has been featured in Net 25’s A.S.P.N. and Responde early this year.
In the meantime, as an artist, Poquita uses his canvas to show the beauty of the countryside and the public, the possible effects of development aggression, heavy dependence on technology, and other social changes to our children and the nation as a whole. Poquita uses the kite to symbolize his hopes and dreams for the Filipino youth.
In the meantime, Tica will showcase his meticulously painted flowers, like poinsettia, along with his other works in the show. Tumibay, on the one hand, uses his paintings to express his thoughts on pressing social issues.
Artistic Sextet runs until July 8, 2023.
(Noel Sales Barcelona)