Tuesday, December 23, 2008 Their Second Nature By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
THREE architects and an engineer who are refocusing their energies in the visual art of painting, sculpture and photography have an ongoing group exhibit of artworks at the SM Art Center.
They tried showing the other side of being an architect. The engineer takes us to a journey through the speed of a camera’s shutter. “Images as Captured in Moments” is the group show of architects Arsenio “Arsing” Abella, Max Siao (MKS for you), Noli Wong and engineer Frances Siao (or Kiko).
According to Abella “in an unending search of what is beauty in objects,” he evolves into sculpture. Abella’s quasi-installation is a conceptual center piece exploring contents of a container. His autobiographical art works focus on life itself and segments them into individual themes of childhood, time, vigil and personal treasures.
Siao intrigues us with freaks of nature and mysterious environmental occurrences. His photography is by nature enigmatic. In his every shot he’s got this to say: “When a spontaneous attempt to capture life in light and shade comes to print, it is but a pleasure sharing these fleeting moments with you.”
Max Siao’s brother Frances is also into photography. He invites us all to experience some rush. He says: “Hold your breath for my shutter speed! To measure the seasons of your smile is my own journey.”
Noli Wong’s painting is a source or a germ of an idea where his architecture concepets rise or vice-versa. His works on paper are akin to visual studies giving birth to structures. They are like derivatives as basis for building, and transformational in comparison to his professional work. Driven by art in everything he does, he strives to be literally an artist.
“Every human effort to make a statement has the potential to be art. Architecture’s intrinsic value is it’s enjoyability!”
So there, if you happen to be reading this one, try surprising yourself by being their audience. And then try to see yourself in an art work. That would truly be liberating.
