Rooted in nature
How artist James Gabito expresses his advocacy through arts
Careless is no longer an apt description of humanity’s actions and attitude toward nature, says artist James Gabito, who believes that “savage” or “barbaric” has now become the most appropriate term. For him, the true measure of our advancement as a society is not the height of the skyscraper or the modern amenities that most people have placed a high premium on. Instead, he stresses that our progress is measured by the level of appreciation we have toward the earth in which we inhabit. Stressing that holistic progress can only be achieved once society places equal value on natural resources, he points out the need for “environmentality” to address the harrowing challenges we, as a human
race, face—be it the rapid extinction of species, the depleting ozone layer contributing to record-breaking heat waves, or the unimaginable waste from urban areas sullying the environment.
Beyond his calling as an artist, Gabito is also a passionate advocate for the environment especially for the need for awareness which, for him, is the only antidote to complacency.
“Nature is a prominent driving force in my work,” he says, adding that native tradition and cultures, not just in the Cordilleras but around the Philippines, have also been a strong source of inspiration.
This deeprooted passion can be attributed to the artist’s upbringing. He was born in Mindanao. He grew up in the Visayas. And now he lives in Baguio. That his parents are from Kabayan, Benguet, near Mt Pulag, significantly influenced Gabito’s appreciation of traditional cultures. The artist was also inspired by working with local people and by the strong connection they have with the nature, on which they depend for their livelihood. For Gabito, native tradition presents a venerable wisdom and knowledge not only of the elements of nature but also its very spirit. This wisdom is extended to everyday life through sustainable living. Practices prove that the wellbeing of human and the environment can go hand in hand.
“Highland lifestyles inspire me,” he says. Their way of life, however, is a stark contrast to the current trend of environmental destruction. “It is sad to see the irresponsible agricultural practices and environmental exploitations in our country,” he says. This advocacy became intertwined with his love for the works of all classic, realist, and contemporary artists, having been immersed in the arts for some time as he started drawing at a young age.
Although Gabito does not adhere to any specific philosophy, sharing that his medium of choice is dictating his creative process, with his aesthetic a cross between abstract and realist. “Most of my artworks are like random sketchy forms and shapes and gradual layering of colors,” he says.
This was celebrated in Gabito’s latest show, “Aura of the Breathing Land,” a visual commentary on the sorry state of our forests. In the show, he opts for vibrant palettes, as opposed to traditional color schemes considered organic in nature like browns and greens. “I purposely chose a vibrant color palette to create a visual voice because most people look at forests as merely trees and plants, rather than looking at them as a community of very important creatures,” he says.
The need to look at the environment, not as an entity from which we are far removed but rather a larger ecosystem of which we are a vital part, is an important step for society, that is to better appreciate our role as stewards of nature. More than a call to action, Gabito’s breathtaking works reflect the pulsating quality of the organic world, as if breaking down to an individual organism. This is a chilling reminder of the grave responsibility we hold over the very forces that can either give us sustenance or destroy us.
“Aura of the Breathing Land” is on view at Art Underground.
Native tradition presents a venerable wisdom and knowledge not only of the elements of nature but also its very spirit. This wisdom is extended to everyday life through sustainable living.