Kaida Contemporary’s much-awaited ALIGAGA 2 features recent works by a diverse group of young artists, each offering a unique perspective through lenses that delve into their personal coping mechanisms amidst the complexities of the times we live in. The participating artists are: Jessa Balag, Raphael Carloto, Arth Chavez, Babylyn Fajilagutan, Bam Garibay, Nina Garibay, Paola Germar, Lui Gonzales, Genavee Lazaro, Gino Nagret, Ayen Quias, Ikea Rizalon, Maia San Diego, Oddin Sena, Angelo Tabije, and Abril Valdemoro. It is currently on view until 8 August 2023 at the ArtistSpace located at Ground Level, Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City.
Arth Chavez’s 8D Apartment: Birthday Party transports us to a whimsical tea-time enjoyed by a happy monster, where a table laden with sweets becomes a vibrant spectacle of color and delight. Ayen Quias’ Towering Dreams wood collage sculpture stands tall as a testament to human aspirations and the strength to overcome challenges. Babylyn Fajilagutan’s paper, thread, and mixed media collage works are an entrancing fusion of textures, inviting us to explore the intricacies of her layered compositions. Lui Gonzales’
Lying Undisturbed on Pavement Cradles mesmerizes with intricate pen and ink scribblings and drawings on layered and torn pieces of tracing paper. Ikea Rizalon’s threaded canvas enthralls with its fusion of overlapping lines and colors, letting the artist take control of concealment and exposition.
As Bam Garibay’s tongue-in-cheek painting Camp Panty challenges historical depiction and policing societal norms with humor and wit, Jessa Balag’s Paglabay sa Panahon draws viewers into intimate narratives, capturing emotions and human connections that resonate on a profound level. Raphael Carloto presents a poignant scene of a makeshift streetside store, a testament to resilience and resourcefulness amidst urban landscapes, while Oddin Sena’s depiction of residue from the continuing saga of online shopping extravaganza delves into the intersections of consumerism and modern life.
Paola Germar’s Jumpin’ Jupiters, Crazy Eights captures a playful and highly-saturated living space filled with auspicious symbols drawing parallels to the unpredictability of life and the art of chance. Genavee Lazaro’s Everything is Green presents a lush and vivid exploration of nature featuring her remarkable characters, evoking stillness and wit amidst familiar settings. Gino Nagret’s fashion conscious organic creatures blur the lines between reality and imagination, inviting us into a world of wonder. Nina Garibay entices us to share her fascination for the color blue, as she weaves mysteries into her paintings that beckon us to delve deeper into their enigmatic realms. Maia San Diego’s Strong Girl Era exudes freedom, empowerment, and resilience, while Angelo Tabije’s contemporary
Genie in the Bottle explores the power of wishes and the complexities of desires contained in a crushed PET container. Abril Valdemoro paints a hefty heavenly body perched on a laborer’s-tired shoulders in Dagdag, striking a powerful chord on the burden and grace found within everyday struggles while questioning divine guidance.
Aligaga 2 is a captivating journey into the artists’ ways of coping with the tensions of our times. Through their art, they express disquiet, create meaningful visual objects, and delve into disturbances that exist both within and without our lived experiences. These works resonate with temperaments deeply felt, presenting us with a compelling and thought-provoking visual encounter. As the exhibition traverses the realms of the tangible and the immaterial, the mysterious and the commonly known, these artists visualize our own cravings for expression, the mind catalyzing cataclysms into energies that push even our spirits into flourishing.
