For many people, the pandemic allowed them to rekindle their passions that were left by the wayside. For Jayson Isaac, it was a chance for him to try his hands on visual arts once again. “I always loved drawing, even when I was a kid. But growing up poor in the province, I was encouraged by my parents to take a more stable career path, saying that drawing won’t put food on the table,” he shared.
It seemed ideal then as he would have revived his love for arts once again. His long-time partner, the famed photographer Raymund Isaac pushed for them to go to the United States in order to get vaccinated and during their stay there, they opted to get married, formally tying the knot.
However, only a few days later, Raymund exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 infection, leading to his hospitalization, and ultimately, to his untimely passing. It was this rollercoaster of events that led Jayson to paint as a way to process and express his emotion. It was also this period where he strengthened his faith as friends and family members introduced him to saints. He would pray to them as fervently as he could at St. Patrick Church in San Francisco, California.
This translated to his paintings depicting details and zoom-ins of different saints and of Mother Mary and Jesus. His works, which are mostly acrylic on canvas and wood, are named after the image or idol he commemorated. Some of these are entitled “Nazareno”, “Padre Pio”, “Guadalupe”, “Divine Mercy” and “St. Expedite”.
“I found comfort in painting during those challenging times,” Jayson shares. “It became a way for me to process my emotions and channel my grief in a healthy way. I believe that art has the power to heal and unite, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my journey through my work.”
This art exhibition is Jayson’s way of telling his story of love, life, and loss. Finally being able to share this with the world is a nod to his incredible journey from the lens to the canvas, and is also a testament to the power of creativity in the face of adversity.
The works will be on display on Saturday, September 30 at the Admiral Hotel Manila. Some of the works will be up for sale and proceeds will be donated to Positive Action Foundation Philippines Incorporated (PAFPI), a foundation dedicated to empowering and helping living with HIV Philippines and AIDS.
