MANILART with the theme “Ang Arte ng Pilipinas” to mark its first decade had Davao artist Rey Mudjahid “Kublai” Millan once again among the artists, this time in collaboration with two other artists of different genres to come up with the series they called “Body, Mind, and Soul.”
It was held at the SMX Convention Center of SM Aura in Taguig City last October 18 to 21.
“Body, Mind, and Soul” saw Kublai work with egg sculptor and ManilArt curator Danny Rayos del Sol and wood artist Agi Pagkatipunan to produce 16 artworks that sold out just two hours into the opening night.
“Body, Mind, and Soul” are compositions that ask the viewers to look deep into their minds, bodies, and souls and appreciate not just the process through which each masterpiece was created but most of all, to see the connection and comprehend the wholeness achieved.
Agi is the body and brings form to the individual pieces through his art honed from old wood and polished to bring out the sheen that only seasoned wood can ever achieve. Kublai represents the mind as his colors and strokes call on us to stop, trace each line with our eyes, and grasp the story each painting brings out. While Danny and his egg carvings lit up from within bring to fore the fragility of the soul with their luminescence and intricate masterstrokes.
Kublai once again brought the colors of Mindanao to deliver the message of unity in this art fair that art collectors are looking forward to every year.
All together, the three artists came out with masterpieces not of individual artists but a connected whole, just as our Body, Mind, and Soul cannot be taken apart.
No wonder collectors snapped them up as fast as they can.
Kublai debuted in ManilArt last year as the annual art fair's featured artist after Rayos del Sol became acquainted with his works during a visit to relatives in Davao City in the earlier part of 2017.