“Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters”
by Fred Tan
Melissa Yeung Yap
“Weaving Dreams”
Booth C4
Melissa Yeung Yap transforms value in the textiles of T’boli, Hinabol, Inabel and introduces the intervention with the Yakan as well as other communities of weavers. Yeung Yap’s goal is for the weavers that she collaborates to have a sustainable weaving living tradition. In her words, “through looking at tradition with new eyes, I want to help them carry it into the future.” Culturally sensitive, the artist collaborates with select weavers from both indigenous communities to create a body of work which will eventually culminate in her ARCHIPELAGO Project, a project which would enable indigenous weaving to persist and find purpose in contemporary life. The ARCHIPELAGO Project will be under the Got Heart Foundation which Yeung Yap founded and directs. The exhibition will be curated by Ricky Francisco, and the communities will be involved throughout the process.
Francis Nacion
“Nacion”
Booth C4
Reacting to the anxiety and tragedy that COVID 19 has wrought to the world, Francis Nacion, through Galerie Francesca, presents an offering of joy at ManilArt 2021 in his latest solo, “Nacion”.
At first glance, the colorful works of Nacion, now predominantly autumnal in coloration, seem to be a welcome escape from the tragedy that has befallen our world, and yet acknowledge what time has ripened, and experience has matured. This pandemic has brought us to terms with the fruits of what we have sown collectively as a species.
With his bright color palette, now a tinge subdued, and enhanced with skillful and persistent grattage, the dreamy and wonderful subjects of togetherness and bounty become a joyful reminder of our childhood; innocent, untroubled, and full of life; as well as the joyful subjects ingrained into our collective unconscious by Amorsolo and those who followed after him.
“Family is where life begins, and love never ends,” is the phrase which sums this collection of works by Nacion, which he has produced during the quarantine. Being together with his family has heightened his awareness of the purpose of his art, and the reason for his being. And this is what he shares with his latest solo exhibition “Nacion,” presented by Galerie Francesca for ManilArt 2021.
In these works, which are personally meaningful and dear to Nacion, he creates parables of hope and resilience that exemplify Filipino attributes and values which will allow us to always persist and transcend tragedy and difficulties. In Nacion’s hands, he distills the idylls espoused by the genre painters of generations past, and pays homage to them by updating the repertoire. Through his singular vision, they become a reminder of who we are, and that with some grace and cheer, we shall not only survive, but triumph and celebrate life, even during these difficult times.