Monday, January 23, 2006
Jovin Militar: Putting color in his life
By Hazel de Los Reyes
ART is beauty. Humans, for example, are God's greatest masterpieces.
Man also created his own art. Through his wide imagination, he can shape and figure out what he wants to make. He is surrounded with nature that helps him decide what to create.
For Jovin Militar, painting is his world. It's through art that he expresses himself.
Jovin was born May 4, 1984 at San Dionisio, Iloilo. He is now in his fifth year of Architectural course at the University of San Agustin. Some of his family members are into the arts. His grandfather's into pottery while some of his cousins also paint. Their works are prominent elements in their respective houses.
Militar, on the other hand, has the courage and confidence to exhibit his works.
When it all started
Jovin found himself mixing colors when he was in fourth year high school. He pursued this talent until now. He was influenced not only by the ideology of the other artists but of the things that are happening in his surroundings.
He paints every month. "Work must be constant. I should not stop, and should produce an artwork at least every month. With a leaning for surrealism and expressionism, I dabble with my favorite medium, oil," he said.
When I asked him why oil, he told me that it is where he can mix all colors, because works varies on it.
At present, he has more than 80 paintings, not included his small works and sketches. His favorite is "Lunatic Pregnancy" which took him the longest time --- a month --- to finish. It was sent to Manila for an art competition.
Being a young artist
Militar said that being a young artist is an advantage in the world of art. He said younger people are selected by galleries because of their new mindset. He added that young ones are most sensitive than the older ones. They are not the usual painters who just do landscapes, portraits, nudes, or other views. He also said that young artists have varied expressions on what's going on around them. They have a strong theme.
Source of pride
He is young. He has a very long journey to take and what makes him proud is that he can combine the new themes and the influence of older artists. He is thankful he was taught how to use different kinds of strokes and painting identification.
Achievements
Jovin was chosen as one of the semi-finalists in the 2003 national competition of Metro Bank Art and Design Excellence and in the Shell Student Art Competition. He got three awards in the year 2005. He won second place in the T-Shirt Painting Contest during the National Architectural Week. He placed second in an On-the-Spot Painting Contest held at Museo Iloilo. He placed third in the Spot-Poster Making Contest 2005 of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Affiliations
Militar is an active member of several art groups. His club affiliations include the Circulo Artist Group, Arki Club Iloilo, Pubukad Artist Group, Ambon (Artista kag Manunulat nga Makinabanwahon), Busilak (Bagong Uri ng Sining Lahing Kayumanggi), Icare (Iloilo Concerned Artists for the Environment), Ivaa (Iloilo Visual Artists Association, and University of San Agustin Publication.
Exhibits
Jovin has joined countless exhibits from 2001 to 2005. Among those were "Hublag" Western Visayan Art Exhibition, "Hugpong", "Pang-agda I and II", "Ugsad", "Sanaaw", "Busilak", Western VIsayas Traveling Art Exhibitions and Workshops", Cinemagination, "Red-Alert", "Art Auction", "Renascene", "Arte Iloilo", and "Art Republic".
Message
Paint and paint. Don't stop. Never lose courage if people criticize your work. If you love your work, fight for it.
Statement
Love plus hate equals art. It is something you want and love but it hated you. It is something you hate but it loved you, and you just discover something new.
(January 23, 2006 issue)
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