DETOUR

Walking around Blanc Gallery last week was like perusing an old Manila scene. "Detour" is a witness, in impasto, of an old familiar neighborhood thru the eyes and hearts of two versatile contemporary Filipino artists -- Elaine Roberto-Navas and Jonathan Ching. Their mesmerism with everyday surroundings prodded them to produce works that are familiar yet distinctly fresh.

As artists, Elaine and Jonathan see the allure in everyday scenes that we sometimes take for granted; they notice nuances that we oftentimes ignore. Their object-oriented paintings deliberately make me take a second-look. It stirs my imagination to envisage the diverse meanings of their subjects-- interpretations and contexts that become translated from the artist to the artworks to the viewers, and all the virtual dialogues that happen in between. 

I enjoyed the pure aesthetics of this show-- elegant colors and thick strokes portraying the charm and appeal of the everyday scenes. Their paintings render brave perceptions that uplifts.

 

 Elaine and Jonathan work while listening to music and audio books. Elaine mostly ends up thinking about her two children and praying for them. Jonathan uses the meditative exercise as therapy to process thoughts and feelings.  And look at what magically transpires....

 

DOG SEE RUSTY GATE WHOLE, a diptych by Elaine Navas

FATES, a quadriptych by Jonathan Ching

SECRET GARDEN, a quadriptych by Jonathan Ching

GEMINI, a diptych by Jonathan Ching

LOVE LETTERS, AFTER SAM KIYOUMARSI, by Elaine Navas

UP
CRYBABY, AFTER SAM KIYOUMARSI
GI HOMAGE TO CHABET, AFTER SAM KIYOUMARSI
by Elaine Navas

DIVA, AFTER SAM KIYOUMARSI by Elaine Navas

DYNAMIC DUO, AFTER ERN'S SUPERMAN, a diptych by Jonathan Ching

DIRTY LAUNDRY by Elaine Navas

Jonathan Ching and Elaine Roberto-Navas
behind is PALE FOUNTAINS 1-4 by Jonathan Ching

Detour is showing at Blanc Gallery until September 3.