With his eyes cast on the question of hidden dimensions, or else the dimensions that lie beyond the 3 dimensions perceivable or measurable by the human mind, Ian Carlo Jaucian embarks on his first solo exhibition Heretical Science at the Small Gallery of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and attempts to find, not just ways to ‘see’ these dimensions but also what these could mean for us.

To be heretical implies dissension or differentiation from established doctrine, granting that the existence of hidden dimensions can neither be proven nor disproven and therefore there is no scientific law or principle for it.  Jaucian’s work may very well echo scientific methods as he employs art to experiment on, explore and investigate what is for now impossible to know.  Yet this is just the tip of his transgressions even as he acknowledges this contradiction: that the mind cannot accurately perceive the actual nature of things and yet it is capable of understanding spatial concepts beyond the perception of the senses.

Heresies run against absolutes, as the mind is undeterred…

Renowned fashion designer Rhett Eala celebrates his 20th year in fashion with a different kind of show at Silverlens. Entitled Divides, Eala’s show explores another medium of his creative expression, painting—something he has done on and off all his life.

Just like how he did it with the successful Collezione clothing brand, Eala explores his fascination with the iconic Philippine map, albeit this time through monochromatic paintings. Drawn to the unique shape of the Philippine archipelago, Eala reinvents how the map is viewed and displayed. He made the Filipino theme fashionable, and now with Divides, he makes it art.

Divides is a series of white maps painted on a white background; their black versions; and their red versions. “When you have images painted in the same hue you tend to look closer at the images”, Eala explains.  He invites his audience to take a close look at the cracks in the paint that hold the image together and the texture of the many layers.

The imagery is recognizable and resonant. With the Philippine map is the University of…

This September, Chati Coronel returns to the Philippine art scene after many years living in the States with her show An Hour in a Glass Balloon, in which she remains true to her medium of expression of 18 years, painting.

Born from an idea floating in her head, An Hour in a Glass Balloon reveals a whimsical and magical world, which Coronel explains as a world that “usually doesn’t get celebrated in art.” In her large-scale oil paintings she uses the woman as her focal point, revealing the duality of their strength and softness with bulbous, organic shapes –as a parachute, a cape, a headdress—and vibrant colors. The softness of the feminine form and the boldness of a woman’s sensuality are contradictions that are not necessarily in conflict with one another.  As in the piece, Turning Dakini, the woman’s exposure is twofold. She is vulnerable in her nakedness, but strong in her conviction to reveal her true self.  Self-assured, she has nothing to hide

Amidst the flowing shapes, dream-like scenes and colorful tapestry, Coronel also taps into…

Dina Gadia presents a solo show in 20SQUARE called Contra-Affair. Known for her collages, Gadia enjoys mixing pop art rock and roll inspired images, and putting them together to create an entirely new context.

In Contra-Affair, Gadia uses three mediums: painting, collage and sculpture to explore “affairs of ideas/images that go against each other”—from a muscle man in a graveyard to a children’s textbook illustration with punk graphics.

She likens her mix and match of images to dating. “If the images seem like their playfully flirting with one another, at the same time, ‘never trusting and committing’, then I’ll make them stick together.” The resulting affair between contrasts or ironies becomes something else entirely. For example, by adding the text “mamaw” (monster) into the muscle man-graveyard mix, the transformation from man to beast becomes complete. In each new “affair”, she purchases a new identity for the images by defining the images against each other.

Because Gadia “cracks the images to open the possibilities of new meaning”, her work is witty, often times in your face, but always thought-provoking.…

In this exhibit, the tradition of craftsmanship merges with the contemporary use of utilitarian objects and explores new ground in visual expression. The exhibition will showcase about thirty sculptures inspired by the great depths of the ocean. On view until September 12 at the Ayala Museum. For details, please call 757-7117 to 21 local 28.

Good news to all art enthusiasts. This is your second chance to view the works of Kiko Escora, James Haresco, Jono Pisano, Thomas Daquioag (featuring new works) and more. Get a chance to own it at a discounted price. Check it out Outerspace Art Sale ongoing ‘til September 5 at Outerspace Art Gallery located The Collective, 7274 Malugay Street, Suite B, San Antonio Village, Makati.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, Arts Management Department, Students Collaborating and Reaching Out in Events and Arts Management present A Solo Retrospective Exhibit by Leeroy New. Opening on August 25, Wednesday from 6PM onwards at Black Box Studio, 6th Flr., SDA Campus, 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. Exhibit will run until September 3. For more information, please contact 0917-8277757.

Aliens are coming to Taft for a one-man exhibit of international artist Jan Leeroy New at the Black Box Studio of the School of Design And Arts Campus of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Entitled “Creatures of Imagination: Peculiar Faces in Common Places”, the retrospective exhibit will showcase resin and fibreglass sculptures that are out-of-this-world. Opening is on August 25, 6PM onwards and will run until September 3, 2010.

Jan Leeroy New is the one of the country’s up-and-coming visual artists. At 24, he has wowed spectators at the 2008 Singapore Biennale and the 2009 Fukuoka Trienniale with his gargantuan sculptures of sci-fi, religious and historic themes. Recently, he was short listed for the 2010 Ateneo Art Awards. He is represented by galleries such as the Drawing Room, Blanc Gallery, Art Informal Gallery, Manila Contemporary Gallery and The Ateneo Art Gallery.

For more information, please call 0927-8536973. The School of Design and Arts Campus of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is located at 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila.

Reg Yuson has consistently held group and solo exhibitions since 1991, moving on to creating functional art and commissioned public art projects and built environments here and abroad. His new works for Manila Contemporary carries on his roots on defining spaces and, in turn, disorienting pre-conditions of our experiences of familiar places.

For this exhibition titled R Muck, Yuson takes on the challenge of taking on Manila Contemporary’s cavernous space – the very characteristic which he observed has continued to daunt many artists and guests alike through the two years the gallery has been in operation along the Pasong Tamo showroom strip. Instead of pursuing the obvious direction towards filling up the empty gallery space, he chooses to work around magnifying the intimidation towards experiencing the immensity of the hall by emptying the gallery of its wall partitions then containing the entire open space onto the reflections you’ll see of the entire surroundings on the high polished surface of his new sculptures which he refers to as formless muck or blobs.

R Muck plays with the experience…

Chocolate Fire along with the ace lensman Raymund Isaac and his team will be launching their Charity Chocolate Exhibit on August 21. With a colorful multitude of some of the country’s gorgeous faces and exceptional talents revealing the passion that only the chocolate can ignite all captured in print. Letting the passion flow from its creative beginnings is what Aussie import Chocolate Fire’s desire to have a positive social impact in the Philippines. All pictures will be up for auction and all proceeds will go to a street children’s charity group.