“Piling Sandali”, Two man show by Francis Nacion and An Alcantara opens at Galerie Raphael Shangri-La on June 11

It’s the small moments of life that give us the biggest joy. Italian poet Cesare Paveste spoke true when he said that we don’t remember days, but we remember the moments. And from these moments, we can see the depths of our humanity. It is these seemingly insignificant moments that has inspired the literary oeuvre of award-winning poet Rofel G. Brion, a professor at the Ateneo de Manila.

In a form of reverse ekphrasis, Brion’s poetry became fodder for the visual artistic practice of painter Francis Nacion and editor-turned-sculptor An Alcantara. Using eight poems selected from several poetry books of Brion, the two artists collaborated for a unique exhibition at Galerie Raphael in Shangri-la Plaza Mall. Entitled “Piling Sandali,” the collaborative exhibition brings to life the vision of Brion’s works.

The exhibition will open on Saturday, 11 June 2016 at 6PM at Galerie Raphael, Level 4 Main Wing, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. A special poetry reading session is scheduled, with Rofel Brion reciting the works that the artists were inspired by. For inquiries, you may contact 941-6194 or visit www.galerieraphael.com.ph

The exhibition is a fascinating collaborative effort from two artists of similar aesthetic approaches. An Alcantara is a sculptor who works with clay to create terracotta figures. Her visual art oeuvre is best known through her Casa San Pablo Clay Storytellers series, reminiscent of Mexican folk carvings and sculptors, but utilizing Filipino themes. She is also well known as a writer and editor, having worked as Editor-in-Chief of several publications at Summit Media and ABS-CBN Publications, including Working Mom and Good Housekeeping Philippines. Francis Nacion, on the other hand, is a painter known for bright and lively works that draw on Filipino folk beliefs. A member of the famedSaturday Group of artists, his oeuvre is rooted in the beliefs of provincial folk. He uses tales passed on by the elderly in the provinces and render them in playful visualizations. One of his many aesthetic techniques is to use recurring patterns to balance the canvas, lending a children’s book look and feel to his paintings.

The collaborative effort of this exhibition takes on many different forms. In some cases, the artists use their respective mediums to augment each other—in a way collaborating on aesthetic based on a poem. Other works have Nacion painting on one of Alcantara’s terracotta figures, evoking another Mexican tradition popular among artisans. “Tara na sa Perya,” is an example of a true collaboration, with Nacion’s genre painting surrounded by terracotta market and fair figures.

This exhibition focuses on bringing the small memorable moments to life.