A Sneak Peek of the Dreamland at Qube Gallery
Art always has the power to fascinate any soul. My BFF and I aren't an exemption as we found ourselves beyond fascination while checking out the artworks hang at the Qube Gallery.
As what was written on their online page, Qube Gallery is a premier art space in the southern Philippines that initiates, creates, and showcases contemporary arts and ideas. The art place was founded around five years ago, but I didn't have any idea about the place until last year.
Since last year I've been planning to visit the gallery, but it was only last Saturday that I was able to visit the place together with my BFF Shie. And yes, we did visit the place at night (almost at their closing time lol) so the photos here are a bit dark.
When we visited the place, we didn't know that they are actually having an art exhibit. Dubbed as In-Tri-Section, the collection of artworks displayed by artists Jirawat Pramphet, Arthit Pansuay and Jon Ray Fernandez were all curated by Mr. JT Gonzales.
In-Tri-Section, the spot where three versions of wonder collide, filled the gallery with pop icons, personified animals, reckless nudes and glorious clouds.
Those paintings of whimsical cats and cool dogs were all done by Cambodian artist Jirawat Pramphet.From Qube Gallery Facebook account:
Jirawat Pramphet (Gee) attended the Faculty of Decorative Art at Silapakorn University in Bangkok.
Coming from the province of Nakornsrithammaraj, Gee is now channeling his big city experiences into urban streetscapes. Gritty and stark, he populates the sois of Bangkok with whimsical cats and dogs, reflecting the many idiosyncratic personalities that dot the divine city.
Soldiers in camouflage, ballerinas, muay thai boxers, and glam pussies are worked into Gee's canvasses, offset against bewildering, breathtaking Bangkok. Furiously applied strokes create a rough but realistic feel to the works, but the results are never amateurish. Instead, Gee successfully conveys dramatic contrasts with either the tough city and its softer cast of characters, or its toughened denizens and their rustic beginnings.
After his successful one man show last year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Gee is excited about showing in other Southeast Asian galleries. This is his first time in the Philippines, and he can't wait to encounter Cebu's whale sharks and beaches.
Nope, this isn't Gee, LOL. This is my BFF Shie getting so dramatic with the cats :) meow!
“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”
Added a quote to make the whole thing extra dramatic! haha :p Okay, kidding aside, here are the works of Thai artist Arthit Pansuay (Slang Gank). His works feature clouds as crowns which look surreal and yes, dope. I can't even find the right words to describe his creations. Just take a look at them and I'm passing you the freedom to get awed by his works.
From Qube Gallery Facebook account:Gank dove into the art world by racking up a BFA from Phetchaburi College in 2002 and an MFA from Mongkut’s Institute of Technology in 2006. His academic training served him well, as he has then garnered numerous awards and distinctions, including a 2005 Scholarship from the General Prem Tinsulanonda Foundation in Bangkok and the 2nd Prize at the White Heart Art Contest, awarded by the Former Prime Minister of Thailand, Chuan Leekpai.
Notably, he won the Grand Prize at the 13th Toshiba Art Competition and 1st Prize at the 7th Watercolour Painting Contest for the Central Region of Thailand (2001). After numerous exhibitions in Bangkok, such as the recently concluded exhibit at Pandora Gallery (2015), the 2006 Koler Me exhibit at Jamjuree Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University, and a 2005 Exhibition by the Phetchaburi Office of Cultural Heritage, Slang Gank is thrilled to come to Cebu and interact with the Filipino art world.
Recently, Slang Gank has been fascinated by the juxtaposition of a man with clouds. Insubstantially soft cloudscapes gather around his characters and form a unique backdrop that is slowly becoming his trademark. This collection of Qube draws from Slang Gank's experiments with cumulus and nimbus, spectacular cloaks that dramatically offset his canvasses.
Here's a more detailed info. about Mr. Fernandez which is also from Qube's Facebook account:
After a few years of reality biting him and him biting reality, Jon Ray moved to Manila, where he stumbled upon the fascinating world of art. Drawing upon his innate talent and gradually pushing himself to try new media, -isms, and subjects, Jon Ray now spends his days ignoring friends and creating neon pop. Jon Ray is slowly attracting a fan base that spans the globe, such as Pedro Almodovar muse Rosie de Palma and actress Emmanuele Beart, as social media has allowed him to reach out and expose the world to his fierce, fabulous take on female icons.
"She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
If you wanna add a little bit more fun to your imagination, go take a sneak peek of the dreamland at the Qube Gallery as well. In-Tri-Section art exhibit runs until August 16, 2016. A part of the proceeds will go to Little Bamboo Foundation, so if you will buy any artworks from the gallery, you are also helping build a better future. :)
Qube Gallery is open every Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:00AM - 07:00PM. For more information about the place, you may contact them with this number: 0918 807 4175
Or you may visit their Facebook account for more updates.
Let's stay creative and inspired!
love lots,
Tin