Kabahin

CEBU, Philippines — Musings on the value of fair shares and its graduation into possessions are among the many reflective points that are brought about by an exhibit currently ongoing at the Art Center of SM City Cebu.

Titled “Kabahin,” the show presents a series of artworks made by Goy Candelario, Ronnie Rudinas, Resty Sala and Cris Tamis – the founding members of the Butuan City-based Kwadrado creative arts organization.

Essentially a Filipiniana-themed exhibit that features artworks that are rendered in various styles, the show reflects how forward-thinking Butuan artists are in terms of creative diction and direction.

This is evinced in realism-themed pieces that are amped-up with process-oriented expressionist styles and works that blend art deco elements with cubism’s motion-evocative approximations.

Shorn of the art-making techniques its exhibiting artists’ are honing and fine-tuning, the show’s curatorial scope imbues it with a sense of balance that enjoins viewers to reevaluate what “fair share” really means – if it’s the “fair” or if it’s the “share” that sets significant value to the concept.

In having “Kabahin” as its title and consolidating theme, the show also reminds viewers that in as much as there’s value in getting what one is due, to solely focus on possessing what’s due has the tendency to displace as opposed to enrich – given how the pursuit of happiness has been misconstrued by contemporary society as equivalent to possessing as much as one can.

“Kabahin” runs until Saturday, June 22. Proceeds of the show are pledged to help in the ongoing construction of the Tabor Hill College Building and Seminary of the Order of the Discalced Augustinians in Talamban, Cebu City.