Egai Talusan Fernandez who is a prominent figure in the social realist movement in the country puts together in latest show, Kalayaan at iba pang Kwentuhan sa Kanto, works, memorabilia and chosen icons that consistently and definitively reflect the principal motif and themes of his artistic production.
The show reflects on the society and the mitigation of an artist whose art focuses on social commentaries and the exigent call for response. As a purveyor of consciousness, Fernandez through his art intimates encounters and engagements that evoke social concern. Thus, this show can be seen as a visual -memoir that re-examines the political past and provides clues to present.
There are also some specific takes on Martial Law, Ninoy Aquino and questions of heroism, Edsa among other important moments of historical value.
By aestheticizing his reflections, the show becomes a timely engagement on such collective realities as he shares fragments of a social portraiture that engages us to rethink existing paradigms and shake up our complacencies.
Fernandez was born in 1955 in Manila and took his art studies at Philippine Women’s University. He launched his career as an abstractionist. During the 1970s he became one of the leading exponents of nationalist art. In 1980-81, he continued his art studies in Paris, France as an awardee of the Rotary Club of Makati-North. He painted, “Metro Series” depicting the plight of Filipino Overseas Workers. Today Mr. Fernandez is best known as a social realist in the field of Philippine visual arts. An advocate of nationalist art, Mr. Fernandez conducts art workshop in various communities in and outside the country.
A multi-awarded artist, Fernandez has had his works exhibited in museums and galleries here and in many cities abroad. Among others, a “Thirteen Artists” awardee by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1990 and was given the “Parangal Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan” by the City of Manila in 2006. Mr. Fernandez was the head of the Visual Art Committee of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts in 2007-2010.
Kalayaan at iba pang Kwento sa Kanto runs until September 22 at Kanto Artist Run Space, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., San Antonio Village, Makati City.
For more information, coordinate with Mara Herrera at (+63) 906 3275899 or Philip Paraan at (+63) 9152053382.
