Glenn Cagandahan at Galerie Francesca

MANILA, Philippines - Glenn Cagandahan explores the very spirit of an idealized rural Philippines in “Kasaganaan,” which opens on Sept. 26 at Galerie Francesca. The exhibition is a celebration of the bounties of our country, as well as an examination of the essential characteristics of its people.

It’s Cagandahan’s unique reliefs that truly exemplify the essence of an abundant harvest. The exhibition showcases the artist’s ability to assimilate new methods and materials to bring about a fresh new approach to sculpture. The artist’s usage of resin, fiberglass, plastics and even found material addresses new development in visual arts, signaling the shift from traditional sculpture materials like wood, metal, stone and terra cotta.

The immediate result is that old motifs become even more expressive, his practice projecting various innovations of form. It thus becomes possible to bring volume weight to concepts that were once thought to be exclusive to painting. In many ways, the semiotic effect is to revisit what is familiar while still being enthralled by its freshness and originality.

Galerie Francesca is at the fourth floor of SM Megamall A, Mandaluyong City. For information, call 570-9495 or e-mail galeriefrancesca.mega@gmail.com.