The soloists of July

CEBU, Philippines - July has proved to be a month of interesting art exhibits here in Cebu, what with different organizations and venues hosting various creative presentations. These have all served the metro's predilection for traditional-representational art.  Two shows, in particular, have caught the attention of art lovers.

Dante Luzon's second solo show

Second half of June to first half of July, 3rd level Paseo Marina, Ayala Center Cebu

Mainlined by pen-and-ink illustrations, watercolors and a series of canvass paintings, the works of veteran broadcaster, actor and visual artist Dante Luzon, in his second solo show, were quite impressive.

Though not explicitly expressed, the peaks and troughs of identity was the binding theme of the show - played up by Luzon's renderings of portraits and scenes that have long been associated with the Philippines; complemented by the fact that Luzon himself is a multi-talented artist.                                                                                                                                        

To certain extent, the exhibit challenged its audience's perception of what the identity of an artist is - that being an artist is not explicitly about getting a fine arts degree, but about capturing the beauty in one's surroundings.

Fe Madrid Pepito's third solo show

Second half of July, 3rd level Paseo Marina, Ayala Center Cebu

Fe Madrid Pepito - wife of Cebuano cubist Celso Duazo Pepito - has long held a reputation for rendering still lifes, landscapes and flowerscapes.

This reputation is underscored in the artist's third solo show, which presents a selection of oil-on-canvas landscapes and flowerscapes that do more than present a "what you see is what you get" tone.

Inviting viewers to see how an artist translates what he/she sees into a form of personal experience, the exhibit's overall tone reminds its viewers of how representational art has the capacity to inspire, compel and connect. (FREEMAN)