Young Angono artists in spotlight in ‘Homebound’

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) celebrates the birth month of National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong” Francisco with the exhibit Homebound: A Survey of Recent Developments in Angono Contemporary Art, which opened at the Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby) on November 9 and will run until February 12, 2017.

Homebound expresses the longings and declarations of young and contemporary Angono artists. They were chosen by their peers to present their works as a survey of the contemporary visual narrative of their roots, milieu and influence.

The participating artists are Allan Alcantara, Aaron Bautista, Bernardo Balagtas, Michael Blanco, Gretel Balajadia, Chito Borja, Christian Carillaza, Jerome Choco, Mael de Guzman, Khell Dujua, Aga Francisco, Carlos “Totong” Francisco II, Mark Francisco, Sarah Geneblazo, Kathleen Gobasco, Siefred Guilaran, George Laconsay, Lyndon Maglalang, Jan Felix Mesa, Keiye Miranda, Kim Oliveros, Herbert “Ebok” Pinpiño, Melvin Quitasol, Jhen Salinga, Arturo Sanchez Jr., Isidro “Manong Jon” Santos, Aui Suarez, Hamilton Sulit, Wire Tuazon, Franz Marion Vocalan and Chitoy Zapata.

Unlike Botong’s linear lines, forms, and warm colors that look like molded cutouts, the works in Homebound present transparent and translucent geometric patterns; dark, faded, earth tones; jagged lines and colors; coarse and crude surfaces; and images veering toward graffiti, abstraction and the surreal.

Unlike Botong, who stayed in Angono town, Rizal province, and shunned exhibits in Manila and offers to work abroad, most of the artists in Homebound are propped up by social media and technology, are frequent visitors of exhibit openings in Metro Manila galleries, are highly influenced by local and international artists, and have exhibited their works abroad and even featured in international auction houses.

But there are some similarities that Botong and the Homebound artists share: the courage to rebel and challenge existing art norms; the passion for research and diligent reading to achieve the right detail of a work in progress; and of course, their love for Angono and keeping its history, culture, and traditions alive.

Homebound can be viewed from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning December 10. Admission is free. For more information, call the CCP Visual Arts & Museum Division, Production & Exhibition Department, at (632) 832- 1125, local 1504/1505, (632) 832-3702, or 0917-6033809; send an e-mail to ccp.exhibits@gmail.com; or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.