‘Marka Alima’
There’s an unassuming simplicity in the work of Norman Vincent Acedera – his raw often bare-faced canvases resembling heavy slabs of concrete, just patchwork of shining steel breaking the monotomy.
But make no mistake, viewing the minute details of his pieces – sinew and small scars rendered by a deft and deliberate hand – reveals a seasoned artist beneath the thin veneer of his minimalism, a man molded by his struggles and perserverance, finding solace in his art.
The 44-year-old artist opens his first solo show “Marka Alima” at gallery i on Feb. 4, seeking to leave his own unique and lasting imprint on the local art community.
Loosely translating to “marked by hand” in Kinaray-a, Acedera takes the name from his habit of hand-etching his signature onto metal in most of his art pieces.
“I use partly stainless still on my artworks [ especially in “Marka Alima”],” relates the New Lucena, Iloilo-born artist, also a multi-awarded furniture designer. “And I bare- handedly engrave my signature onto each piece, because in my mind I say: ‘ The canvas may be damaged or may fade or burn, but my signature on the metal will remain, even when I’m no longer in this life.’”
Juxtaposing severe and rough faces with lustrous shards of steel alloy, Acedera invites introspection from his audience.
“I want those who see and collect my work to not just appreciate the unique beauty of each piece, but also be reminded about the condition of their soul everytime they see them hanging on the wall,” muses the Iloilo Science and Technology University graduate, then the Western Visayas School of Science and Technology.
Alluding to themes of personal struggle, emotional weight, and mortality - as well as being named after verses and passages from the bible (e.g. “Matthew 6:33”) - “Marka Alima’s” strength lies in the artist’s own history of hardship and perserverance and how he seeks to impart his strength on his audience.
“Marka Alima” is a sincere reflection from one of I l oilo’s most inspiring artists. Acedera channels his experiences into an indelible body of work – minimalistic yet expressive, elegant yet flawed – seemingly a summation of the strong-willed artist himself, as he ventures to leave his own unfading mark on the local art community.
“Marka Alima” is on exhibit at gallery i, Unit 2B on the second floor of the E. Villanueva Building, corner Aldeguer and JM Basa Street, Iloilo City until Feb. 22./