Exhibits 2021
Tuklas 2021 weaves all these nine artist’s concerns not merely as a conscious interlude of colors, illustrations and other media but as something that were originally perceived in their fragile minds. Much of these millennial artists have a more sense of self, an inward perspective on their art. They are more versed with present-day pictorial idioms. These Tuklas artists step up to the plate and offer some of the purest and relevant expressions emanating here. Done in successive months of community quarantines, with the bareness of the physical and cultural landscape, the disparity in lives can be from within their own studios. This is where Tuklas 2021 intervenes as it deems to create that critical dialogue of what is contemporary and being in the now for those who wish to be part of the discussion.
-Jay Bautista
Eugie Varona Dela Cruz is a self-taught Filipino sculptor, wood inlay artist, printmaker and functional art carpenter based in Las Pinas City. In his show entitled “Laro” he uses reclaimed, unwanted rescued wood. He utilizes imperfections of wood due to human or natural causes as advantage to creation of his works. In Laro, the artist creates a wonderful interactive playground where audiences can be part of the artworks.
-Dave Lock
FATIMA, Robert Besana's solo exhibit, took it’s inspiration from the 3rd secret of Fatima and the apparition of the Blessed Virgin, the prophecy about the 2nd world war, the spread of the errors of Russia that caused it, and the request of the Blessed Virgin to consecrate Russia. The works in this exhibit are found images from the second world war specifically in the Philippines rendered with archival pigment ink on birchwood panel and canvas.
-Jay Bautista
Mark Laza creates eight key pieces that repeatedly portrays societal issues to underline how such dire experiences have been recurrently experienced but has not been addressed to date. The build of the artist in some pieces exhibits a timeline to further give prominence to these conundrums. Known for his method of incorporating interactive and mechanical components in his pieces, Laza offers a unique narrative that intends to invoke conversations relevant to current social and political conditions.
-Karen Tesalona
Eskinita Art Farm features a third solo exhibit by Cedrick Dela Paz which continues the artist’s narrative on the journey common people take on and the misfortune people have befallen into under the pandemic and its unmerited distress. His current show entitled Rat Race provides a similar theme as a social commentary. The title ruminates over a double entendre.
-Karen Tesalona
In Pagano, contemporary artist Tyrone Espinosa philosophically expounds further his faith by exposing the moral menace of our time. Using inlay on wood cut out from discarded wood, Espinosa provides a new lease in life in these evocative artworks. Fallen from trees instead of ending as chopping boards they rejuvenate candor by finding meaning in every art piece he churns out. Making his art more meaningful and enigmatically powerful…
-Jay Bautista
Social Anesthesia is a whole systematic experience made and curated by Tamer Karam for his first solo exhibition. The show aims to have the audiences embark on a fervent reflection of one’s moral imperative.
-Karen Tesalona
The first solo exhibit of McCoy Lazaruz, “Sudden Emergence of Unreality” is light without illumination. This is the artist’s way to enkindle confrontation with absurdity and a provocation to bring what is ephemeral, eternal. Such is the journey of one’s mortality. It is an unavoidable course of being and passing, and the concurrent orientation of those two.
-Karen Tesalona
Orland’s first solo exhibition entitled Signos is a product of his Tuklas Mentorship with Alfredo Esquillo and Renato Habulan. It is the artist’s collection of hierophanies to reflect the biblical concept of “Fatal Signs” or the end of times. Known for his unique adeptness in engraving on canvas to depict an imagery, Orland illustrated confrontational urges to the mystical phenomenon of the sacred. He challenged boundaries and created new possibilities for interpretation in every piece to see each work with infinite forms and meanings, concurrently conveying a huge responsibility to the viewers.
-Karen Tesalona
Ben Albino has brought back storytelling in revealing the visual in his pieces for this first solo exhibit entitled, Lupang Hinarang. He was brought up well by his mentors, Renato Habulan and Alfredo Esquillo in the social realist mold, being a chosen Tuklas mentee. A member of Biskeg, a collective of Pangasinan-based artists, which means strong. Albino shows promise and remains bright and hopeful despite gloominess.
-Jay Bautista
Tira-Tira is a Filipino word with a double entendre – one refers to leftovers, and another refers to the act of shooting. Both of which are reflected in the first solo show of Anne Lacaba. An observance of the nation’s current state – the mindless exploits of violent shooting, killing, and leaving only remnants of terror and grief. Throughout her exhibition, equipped with a series of magical symbolisms, Lacaba aimed to convey a serious sociopolitical theme compelling her audiences to initially tread lightly around her narrative as they realize the gravity of it.
-Karen Tesalona
We are Meant to be Lost by Genavee Lazaro is a mystical wandering through nature and an attempt of the artist to have her audiences stay grounded. It is a spiritual journey fabricated by an installation that mimics a sanctuary.
-Karen Tesalona
The exhibition culls its title from a show that both artists used to watch as children. Prompted by the eeriness of the host’s aloneness in his quests, the artists articulate the difficulties of navigating adulthood and the desire to escape reality.
-Pam Quinto
Ordoyo’s first solo exhibition, Sibol, deeply incorporates contemporary visual language. He employs old school aesthetics with illustrative craft on textured canvases. His themes center as well as dwells on his enchantment with the environment. His body of works revolves around nature and its creation and even espousing on its eventual degradation--rooted in identity and memory--the response is blatantly visual close to detailed intimation. As we are still in this pandemic, Sibol is a temporary respite from the rapid conundrum of our extended mortal existence.
-Jay Bautista
Reamillo has through the years been very much aware of his own embrace of multicultural tolerance, thus his artistic manner of treating whatever subject comes to him at any given moment: he finds it necessary to instigate that very multiculturalism, be it by means of surrealistic imagery, the appropriation of context
-Jojo Soria de Veyra
As if by fate--guided by the Holy Spirit--fashion designer and artist Steve De Leon has merged in sync his two bespoke interests—fashion and history in his exhibition Stitching Faith and Fashion in Tapestry and Artwear. Leveling up in significance, he has even paralleled its narrative with Philippine history.
-Jay Bautista
Mr. Red’s works in this exhibition consists of a video installation, five paintings done with acrylic on canvas and with objets d'intérêt arranged on the floor which are together set up in a way to approximate the cinematic-watching experience.
–Nicolas B. Pichay
In his upcoming solo exhibition, Hindi Kami Namamatay, he emerges from his comfort zone and takes a pun intended at what is happening to his surroundings and our social history.
-Jay Bautista
With a single glance, Turla’s first solo exhibition, YAHUB, elicits a sense of yearning. The thematic ambiance captures that of scorched memorabilia and photographs that evoke a sense of eagerness to be forgotten.
TUKLAS is a year-long mentorship program with Eskinita Art Gallery’s founder and director Alfredo Esquillo, as well as the gallery’s resident curator Renato Habulan. The program includes mentoring sessions, art residency, assistance in production, and an invitation for a solo exhibit at Eskinita Art Farm in Tanauan, Batangas.
These 17 aspiring TUKLAS mentees would be given a chance to discover their own potential, test their commitment to art and their craft as well as build their character during the whole program.