A Smith, an abstractionist
Jacques André Joya Baldovino forges his way in the Philippine art scene
In Greek mythology, the cunning titan, Prometheus, defied the gods when he stole fire from their heaven-like cradle Olympus and brought it down to humanity. A divine figure known for his commanding intelligence, Prometheus is a champion of mankind. In the same sense, young artist Jacques André Joya Baldovino, a Prometheus in his craft, brings a new kind of fire on the anvil of contemporary abstract art.
André’s debut solo-show, dubbed “Temper,” focuses on, according to him, the lost appreciation to the process and the spontaneity of creating art. The title, he said, intends to describe the strong burst and explosion of emotions, evoked upon him by the process of creating his art. “I specifically chose the word temper because it’s associated with my painting process, which is heavily related with mood and emotion. The colors, shapes, and everything depends on my current mood,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Manila
Bulletin. “Most artists think of this ap- proach to art as superficial or shallow compared to what other artists, like social realists or propaganda artists, do. For me it isn’t ‘superficial.’ It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s, well, cathartic.”
THE PROCESS
Also, a huge part of this exhibition is André’s personal reaction and critique on how we view art today. “In the academe, for example, the focus is almost always on the concept and meaning of the work that the process of painting in itself is hardly emphasized,” he said. “Painting is a very pleasurable act. The composition is always a challenge for the artist. It is all in the process. And, honestly, the goal is not to make the result ‘good,’ it is in the very act of painting where I truly see myself as an artist.”
Only after finishing the collection, however, that he realized that the title and the physical and material process of making art may also be connected to blacksmithing—as in temper, which means improving the hardness and elasticity of (steel or other metal) by reheating and then cooling it. André’s unprompted artistic process is almost the same as a devious blacksmith forging a signature unconventional sword.
“In a way, I start my art slightly random, without caring about the result, my decisions depend on whatever mood I have at that time,” he explained. André follows no rules, no sketch, no references, no guides, as if putting a piece of metal to a hellish furnace. After this burst of emotion or ‘temper,’ nearing the end of the process, André starts to hammer and shape his sword to his desired finish. “After I do what my mood requests, I now start to calculate, maybe balance, maybe detail, anything.”
“In a way, this obsession or passion for the act or the process of creating art makes me feel empowered,” he said. “I make the decisions. I’m not making the lines based on the sharpness of a model’s nose, or using colors based on a person’s hair, I don’t depend on any references. Since abstract really has no inherent or intended meaning, there’s no right or wrong, abstract empowers me because of the creative freedom it gives me as an artist.”
‘TEMPER’
As the grandson of the legendary National Artist José T. Joya, who influenced him greatly, André has been exposed to art, especially in his grandfather’s known field, abstract, since he was a just child.
“We have a special collection of his works at home so I saw a lot and was exposed to them growing up. I also remember going to his shows and reading his books when I was a kid,” he shared. “He passed away when I was nine. He would always tell me to attend a lot of workshops and continue to purse arts when I go to college.” On the contrary André took up a Political Science program at Ateneo but, right after graduation, he chose not to drive to the long road of law school, repossessing the desire to create for his and art’s sake, he realized the value of formal education, and instead heeded his grandfather’s request. André went to college for another four years, at the University of the Philippines– Diliman, and studied Fine Arts. After all the knowledge passed unto him by his grandfather, after learning formally in art school, after a series of group exhibitions, which all shaped the artist he is today, André brings down the fire from his own Olympus and unveils his freshlyforged abstractions in a first ever solo show.
“Temper” is open today until Jan 14, with an artist reception on Jan 4, 6 p.m. at the Artist Space, 2nd Floor, Glass Wing, Ayala Museum, Highway Drive, Cor. East Drive, Makati
Of the four elements, air, earth, water, and fire, we stole only one from the gods. Fire. And with it, man forged his will upon the world. —Anonymous