“IN THE CLEARING”

Allain hablo

niccolo jose

ABOUT THE SHOW

Before one reaches the clearing, one must first bear witness into the wilderness and all its complexities. On one end of the spectrum of Philippine abstract art, we encounter spontaneous expressionists and their color-filled canvasses. Meanwhile, on the other end, we are faced with the more minimalist artists and their serene works embedded resolute significance.

In the Clearing offers an exposition of the works of the county’s most prominent minimalist artists—Allain Hablo and Niccolo José. Both of them are known to make works of art that confront the boundaries of their chosen materials. Hablo is known to integrate industrial materials such as steel and cement in his canvasses while José’s is very much fixated on wood and all its possibilities. The works that they produce reveal how each artist has mastered the craft of integrating materials with their ingenious compositions resulting into the enrichment of the pieces.

For Hablo, the utilization of industrial materials in his work mimics the canvasses are painted with oil or acrylic. Though he still makes use of these traditional medium as he paints, one derives his command over the techniques he operates with using hardware. His canvasses are very much revered and recognized because of their texture and value. Meanwhile, José’s preoccupation with wood and what it can offer contributes to his environmentally conscious works. As a graduate of environmental studies and sculpture, he primarily makes use of reclaimed wood and breathes new life into them as sculptures.

The exhibition showcases the artists’ poised compositions that carry more than what they manifest. The works on display are products of the artists’ continuous exploration of their materials and it renders a clearing brimming with profound gravity in their minutest details.

– Drew Rabadon