Get stoned with a safe dose of psychedelic art from artists Iyan de Jesus, Ramona Gaston, and JR Urao at Vinyl on Vinyl later this evening. It’s the debut night in Makati, and we recommend you RSVP (by telling them you read this on Preen!).
Power Overwhelming by Ramona Gaston
What do you get when you juxtapose Buddha and Jesus with the Nazi badge? Pastel-colored chaos that tries to make sense of a world governed and restricted by order. Ramona Gaston plays with the mandala symbol, and weaves in worldly icons that both resonate with intellectualism and spiritualism.
Then again, that’s hardly what makes it crazy. There’s a subconscious play of “pin the donkey” here: Identify which symbols you relate to, and you might just see more clearly the many contradictions in the world you live in. Eventually, your eyes will adjust to the mess, if not for the kaleidoscopic nature of its images.
Cloud Child by Iyan de Jesus
Don’t sleep now. Iyan de Jesus lets us in on a dream: ones that consist of a lazy-eyed girl, an earthy and toned-down color palette, and turning wheels that, well, don’t exactly turn. While it may be impolite to intrude upon someone’s dreams—just imagine all the trespassing offenses made if we really could!—there’s something instinctively calming from watching this trance.
Think you’re hallucinating? Don’t worry. Swirly patterns and mechanical elements make it seem like the art could move. But what’s truly moving about its illusions is the tranquillity it depicts. Does this mean true calm can only be achieved during sleep? Now isn’t the time to find out because there’s another artist left.
Threshold by JR Urao
Though much tamer than the other two exhibits, a dose of JR Urao’s exhibition can still knock your wits out after plenty of minutes thinking, “What’s supposed to happen here?” His bleak work compiles numerous origin stories of mundane realities and moments in people’s lives.
It’s a visual ode to the idea of beginnings, albeit a sullen tribute to what usually are happy starts. Faces are concealed either by position or deliberate choice. Nonetheless, we get a glimpse of how the world runs: Apart from its all-too normal grind, it connects us all through human experience. We’re made to share lives and even victories. Well, at least we’re not sharing needles, right?
All three shows will run until Oct. 17. Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery is located at 2135 Warehouse II, 2nd floor, Chino Roces Ave., Pasong Tamo, Makati. The gallery is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit their website.