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By Perry Gil S. Mallari, Reporter
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Settled |
IN his sixth one-man show entitled Condiment,
artist Eliezer John Cabangon talks about the mundane details of life
often overlooked yet have a profound effect on our existence.
Explaining the title of his show, he narrates,
“Condiment, because it showcases stuff that seems trivial yet are
very important because they give flavor and texture to our lives.”
Cabangon earned his Fine Arts degree at the
Philippine Women’s University under the tutelage of Ibarra de la
Rosa one of the foremost exponents of impressionism in the
Philippines. Though trained by an impressionist, Cabangon obviously
opted to thread a different path, one that leans towards realism. He
names Renaissance genius Leonardo Da Vinci as one of his influences.
Except for his preference to work at night,
Cabangon named no special ritual to get into a serious painting
mode. He also reveals that his speed in finishing particular pieces
varies. “I spent months polishing the teddy bear paintings,”
Cabangon discloses. For years, he preferred to work in oil primarily
because of its archival property. “Works in oil really last,” he
points out.
The central piece of Cabangon’s latest show is
“Condiment,” a painting of a jar of marbles rendered in
brilliant colors. Cabangon explains that the image was born out of
his nostalgic musing of a childhood toy—dyolen, a plaything that
now also caught the fancy of his youngest son.
Cabangon’s technical skill as a realist
painter is evident in his fine brush rendering of two
canvasses—“Cornered” and “Settled,” both depicting a teddy
bear in a box. “They were inspired by my observation of my
daughter’s affinity towards that toy,” He discloses, adding,
“Being a source of comfort, that teddy bear, in a way, had become
a ‘condiment’ of her young life. But as she grew up, I felt a
tinge of sadness that she’s slowly relinquishing it away.”
Through Condiment, Cabangon has proven that an
artist can also be a philosophical commentator using visual form.
Condiment is on display until April 18 at the
Big and Small Art Co., 4th level, SM Megamall Bldg. A, Mandaluyong
City.
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