A friendship through a shared journey in art is a unique characteristic of the bond between Jose (Kimsoy) Yap Jr. and Arsenio (Arsing) Abella. The two friends have been growing together ever since their early 20s with nostalgic memories such as their first exhibit in Manila Art Frames and Gallery. The gallery recalled that the two friends knocked on its doors the day before the gallery was going to open in January 1969.
From such humble beginnings, no one had any idea that these two artists would now become two of Cebu’s most prominent people. With achievements towering above all others, the artists are among those who have brought the local art scene to an ascent quite far from where it used to be.
To celebrate and recognize their enormous contribution to Cebu, their artworks were displayed in an art show entitled “Art Biography in Manila Art Frames and Gallery,” which is located on 5 E Benedicto St., Cebu City last October.
Back in 1969, a man in flipflops, bringing with him a supot (pack) of pan de sal, tapped on the door of a framing shop the day before it was going to open. The man was Kimsoy. Tagging along was Kimsoy’s friend, Arsing, who had gone along without a purpose but with his “roadmap of ideas.”
Kimsoy means golden water, which somehow serves as a foretelling of where his talent in visual arts would bring him, as he is now an expert watercolorist able to master the movement of watercolor, which is a very difficult medium. Kimsoy started his journey in the arts through his father’s training. Kimsoy’s father pushed him to become a student of master painter Martino Abellana in Carcar, which was the major part of his early training back when he was in his early 20s. Having learned under Abellana, his career started to peak when he moved to New York in 1971 where he finished his degree in the New York National Academy of Arts. He also taught fellow students. Unfortunately, Kimsoy suffered through a debilitating stroke. Despite that, he continues to paint up to this day. He continues to see the subject’s inner self and allows his audience to see the beauty of the person within, through his artworks.
Arsing is a sculptor and painter in the visual arts and an architect by profession. He is well known as an architectural genius effective and efficient in infusing beauty with function. With over 40 years of practice, Arsing never fails to find an effective artistic solution to every architectural problem. The artist, aside from authoring distinct artworks for every exhibit, is also the author of nearly 50 novels and elegant residential homes in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila and Cebu City. In fact, the 18-storey architectural landmark of Cebu, the Cebu International Finance Corp. (CIFC) building, was created by him; a masterpiece in black marble, green glass, light and space.
In addition, having already fulfilled his goals, Arsing created an art resort known as Singli in San Fernando, Cebu, which serves as a permanent gallery for his artworks.
Friendships forged over time are personal treasures to keep, but friendships that create and uplift a community are the kind of friendships that we need. Kimsoy and Arsing are treasures of Cebu and their friendship must be honored and celebrated by the community they have tried to uplift.