Exploring Bisaya Artistry: ‘Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat’ Three-Man Exhibit Dazzles at UPV OICA

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In celebration of artistry and cultural identity, a 3-person art exhibit dubbed as Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat opened at the University of the Philippines Visayas Office of Initiatives in Culture and Arts (UPV OICA) on Thursday, August 31.

More than just an art exhibition, Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat is a cultural exploration, delving into the multifaceted nature of Bisaya cultural identity. It invites viewers to engage in a dialogue about unity, diversity, and the enduring power of art to celebrate our shared heritage and honor our distinct identities.

The exhibit features a captivating array of paintings and sculptures, with each artist infusing their personal touch into their creations. Zoluaga explores social issues, Villacin incorporates human and natural elements, while Fernandez sculpts forms inspired by personal experiences.

In an interview with Daily Guardian, Fernandez shared insights into the nature of their works.

“The works are very contemporary. Before contemporary art, it was either you did traditional art or you did modern. Now, our works are mixed; some elements of the artworks are modernist, and some are more rooted in contemporary concerns. For instance, in PG, there’s a lot of social involvement in his work. In my case, I’m more on personal involvement. For instance, Ana is a homage to a friend of mine named Ana, who died recently. Then, I did a series of what I called ‘alpiler’ and shaped them like human beings. So that one is the Smoker,” Fernandez explained.

Ana is a wood and stainless art piece, while Smoker  is a copper sculpture depicting a human figure smoking with a real lit cigarette and ash. These two pieces were displayed at the UPV OICA west wing lobby alongside the works of Villacin and Zoluaga.

Villacin’s works revolve around a thematic concept about nature, especially water. His works mainly use various shades of blue to capture the essence of water and its connection to his artistic vision. One of his artworks, Ka Pikas (Other Half), a mixed-media art piece, encourages reflection about human connections and our relationship with nature. Other works in his collection include ‘Storm Repeating Itself’ and ‘Travel by Land, Sea, and Air.’

On the other hand, Zoluaga’s art carries a strong sense of social involvement, touching upon pressing issues that resonate with contemporary society. An example of this is his piece titled Pasiplat sa Palibot: Should the Killings Continue, which may serve as a commentary on the prevailing justice crisis in a society plagued by rampant violence. His other works also encompass indigenous concepts, adding a rich cultural depth to his work.

The three artists are all from the Baby Boomer generation. Alongside their artistic pursuits, they share a profound passion for music. Their decades-long friendship and active involvement in the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibit and Conference (VIVA Excon) have solidified their bonds, and they are recognized as pioneers in the exhibit conference. They effortlessly traverse various artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, and performance art.

The Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat exhibit allows viewers to compare and contrast these three artists’ distinct styles and themes while identifying the common threads that connect them. It is open for public viewing until September 30.

No indentions, observe block form in paragraphing. also observe one sentence-one para setting.

Double quotation marks: “Ana”, “Smoker”. only use single quotation marks if the word or phrase is inside a direct quote that is enclosed in double quotation marks. also, italicized the titles