Over/View at Arte Bettina surveys the current practices of Philippine-based printmakers.
The Association of Pinoyprintmakers gathered for their annual survey exhibition titled “Over/ View.” The works were displayed at Arte Bettina in Greenbelt 5, Makati. For this exhibition, its members and artists who have previously exhibited their works with the group make up a small segment of the Philippines’ printmaking scene.
Included in the show are over 30 artists most of whom are based in Metro Manila. These artists include Angelo Magno, Annatha Lilo Gutierrez, Caroline Ongpin, Diana Aviado, Luigi Azura, Fil Delacruz, Gabi Nazareno, Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, Hershey Malinis, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Janos Delacruz, Jess Flores, Joey Cobcobo, Jone Sibugan, KR Rodgers, Kristen Cain, Luigi Azura, Mars Bugaoan, Marz Aglipay, Melai Arguzon, Mitzi Aguilar-Reyes, ND Harn, Noëll EL Farol, Pandy Aviado, Psalm Tena Astejada, Salvador J. Ching, Samm Occeno, Suchin Teoh, Tish Hautea, Wesley Valenzuela and Fara Manuel-Nolasco.
Most relief works in the show are carved from rubbersole — the very material used for shoes. This relief printmaking material is unique to the Philippines as opposed to Western relief printmakers who use Lino and rubber blocks like Speedball. That being said, there’s a lot more labor put into carving rubber sole given the toughness of the material. The artwork image used in the exhibition poster is “Accomplice” by KR Rodgers which is a great example of relief print carved from rubber sole.
Over the years, Pinoy printmakers have resorted to their resourcefulness in finding the next best alternative in sourcing printmaking tools hence the use of rubber sole. However, this printmaking material is not the only repurposed material for creating prints. There are works printed from tetra-pak (juice or milk boxes) like this print made by Diana Aviado.
And then there’s myself who’s been making prints from stamps that are carved from rubber erasers.
The works I chose for this exhibition go way back to 2016 when I first exhibited a print for Booklat. The red edition of Ohayou Murakami-san was made in a period when I still didn’t know how to make multi-colored prints and worked on an eraser that’s barely 2×3 inches. These three early works are mixed-media prints that use watercolor and ink using stamps. The most recent print among my submissions is an iteration of my print Merienda which was submitted to AIMPE in 2021. Making my participating in Over/View also an overview of my printed work from then until now.
The oldest work in the exhibition is by Imelda Cajipe-Endaya “Paekis-Ekis” (Zigzagging) that dates back to 1975. Ma’am Cajipe-Endaya’s printmaking practice, from what I understand, evolved from learning serigraphy in university. Her piece is made using dry resist which is a very painterly technique that really embraces the abstract approach of this piece.
Watch Over/View
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Over/View at Arte Bettina
Over/ View is extended until October 7, 2022 at Arte Bettina in Greenbelt 5, Makati. For inquiries and the e-catalog, kindly message or contact Arte Bettina through these channels: +639 1711 50504; (02) 7004 3209; [email protected].
See more photos of the exhibition here.
Text and photos are by Marz Aglipay. Artwork photos courtesy of the artists via AP.
