Featured Article

The Freeman Newspaper
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Cebu, Philippines

“It is not often said, but art’s density and permanence is not only characterized by creative movements and styles, but also in how it becomes a paroxysm that earmarks the markers of cultural identity. An artist, after all, cannot deny his personal background from playing a role in the making of works, just as he constantly strives to find a balance between influence and individuality in his pilgrimage for creative identity. This relationship between art and artists, influence, culture and identity is essentially the glue that binds “Heritage in DistINKtion” – one of Qube Gallery’s featured shows for the month of November at its space at The Crossroads in Banilad.

Mainlined by mixed media pieces made by Cebu-born now-Quebec-based medical doctor Rey Narvasa, the show brings together a series of works that espouse familiarity through art-making techniques like linear dithering and stippling, along with prismacoloring methods that fundamentally mold a sense of depth through color toning and shading.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion to preserve various aspects of cultural heritage, Rey blends a metaphoric element into the show in titling it “Heritage in DistINKtion” – as the usage of “ink” in the title is reflective of the show’s predominant use of pen and ink as a medium.

In this show, the black and white pen and ink-rendered areas of a work are representative of what Rey considers as constants in life, whilst its colored areas are indicative of what he perceives as unique Filipino cultural elements.

Rey essentially works with the concept of contrasts in breathing life into the show’s presented pieces, and this works by tempering dis-tINKtions to the elements of culture and heritage that he sets the spotlight on.

“I want to celebrate Filipino culture and honor the rich traditions, history, and values. Our history is filled with a certain resilience and resourcefulness,” Rey writes of the raison d’etre of his show.

“I believe there is a need to preserve and accentuate our cultural identity through various moments of my past. Therefore, this is a loving celebration of our roots, a visual reminder of where we come from, and a reflection of our Filipino pride and nationalism, encouraging future generations to embrace and continue our heritage,” he further shares.

All in all, the show doesn’t exactly catalogue new discoveries in the visual art field, but focuses on how art can be a pathway that brings us home to our own cultural legacy.”

Suarez Taguchi, Yasunari Ramon. “Heritage in DistINKtion.” The Freeman. November 23rd, 2023.