“Unang Lakang” (First Step) is the Cebu Artists Inc.’s (CAI) first group exhibit for 2019, in cooperation with Ayala Center Cebu. It is also the first exhibit under CAI’s new president, Sonia dela Torre Yrastorza. It is a “first step,” explained artist Celso Pepito, in that it is an exhibit of paintings that may be incorporated in dresses by fashion designer Dexter Alazas. For Alazas, it is a first step into seriously fusing local art into his designs; something he has been encouraged to do when his first experimental gown, with a Pepito design, was bought by Maria Ivy Ang Gabas during Pepito’s last exhibit.
Exhibiting artists are Jonathan Abellana, Lida Aguilar, Cesar Castillo, Reynana Dingal, Jess and John Dinglasa, Tina Marie Gandionco, Ana Maria and Juan Guido Lubanga, Ranulo Pautan, Celso Duazo and Fe Madrid Pepito, Antonio Vidal, Gary Watin and Sonia Yrastorza. The paintings vary in style and subject matter.
Abellana, a largely self-taught artist with Kimsoy Yap as mentor, paints in oil and canvas, and has in the exhibit “Memory (a girl playing alone)” and “Sanctuary (a butterfly).” Aguilar, A University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-Cebu) College of Fine Arts graduate, was inspired to paint again, and came up with “Babaye sa Dagat.” Castillo, an engineer who prefers to be an artist, paints every day and has developed his own brand of minimalist strokes that can be found in his work “Daghang Salamat.” Dingal, a nurse by profession who could not abandon his passion for painting, has mixed media work “Shout of Love.” Jess Dinglasa, from Samboan, does mixed media work like his “September End.” John Dinglasa, also from Samboan, brings his rural roots to his art in “Waiting Shade.”
Gandionco has a canvas-full of pastel colored hydrangeas. Ana Maria Lubanga came up with “Tulip.” Juan Guido Lubanga, a product developer who finds deeper fulfillment in his paintings, has “Tartanilla” in acrylic on canvas. Pautan was tutored by Tony and Vidal Alcoseba, and paints in a naturalistic vein. He has “Life Under the Sea” on display.
Pepito has his cubist work on family life and values in “Hagawhaw sa Gugma,” while wife Fe, largely self-taught from watching her husband paint, has “Impression of Lake Danao.” Antonio Vidal, famous for his religious paintings, has studies for fabric painting in the exhibit, mostly with Sinulog scenes. Watin, a Fine Arts graduate of the University of San Carlos, believes that art uplifts the human spirit and has, in the exhibit, a Sto. Niño painting. Last but not least, Yrastorza credits her father, the great influence in her love and passion for art, who provided her access through art lessons under Gamaliel I. Subang, Virgilio Daclan and Jun Mendoza. She finished Fine Arts in UP-Cebu and paints mostly in watercolor, a sample of which, “Simple Joys,” can be seen in the exhibit.
“Unang Lakang” is “a beginning,” especially for fashion designer Alazas, who will interpret the artworks in his coming designs. He will be using hablon, the native fabric weave for which he has an advocacy, and will be showcasing his works in an art-infused fashion show this February in Ayala.
The exhibit “Unang Lakang” runs until Feb. 18 and is on the third floor of Ayala Center Cebu.