In Abstraction
A deep dive into Philippine heritage homes’ one-of-a-kind architecture and interior design
FITZ HERRERA Expressive Virtuoso
Finding freedom in abstraction is what most artists experience. But for this visual artist and band drummer, it is also more of expressing life’s triumphs and pains.
There are two creative sides to Fitz Herrera, a native of the province of Nueva Vizcaya: art and music. An advertising graduate from the University of the East-college of Fine Arts, he got into both painting and playing drums for various bands. Herrera’s figurative acrylic works that utilise impasto technique have been exhibited in various hotels throughout the country and numerous times in premier art galleries and fairs in Metro Manila. Among his accomplishments is earning 3rd place at the 2004 Metrobank Art and Design (MADE) Competition.
“To understand my work is to understand my present predisposition, which is more tranquil yet vibrant, buoyant and open, where things seem to flow naturally and seamlessly like good music that we plead not to stop,” says Herrera.
How did your passion for the arts come about?
Since elementary days I have always loved drawing on my notebooks, although at that age I didn’t know much about the arts—but I think my love for it started there. I don’t have a particular influential teacher or mentor, but I always follow and observe the works of older artists.
Name artists who inspire you and tell us what you love about their work.
I have always loved the works of
José Joya. His body of works inspired me a lot in terms of colours and composition. I also love the works of Bernardo Pacquing. His large non-representational works and installations are very strong and raw.
Tell us about abstract art. How did your passion for this come about and how does your background in music play a big part in your artistic journey?
When I was still working in a recording company, I got into figurative painting; but every time I came home after work, I was already exhausted. I had little time to paint in the figurative style. I had an extra small canvas in my studio and so I tried mixing colours straight onto the canvas. It was like magic and I felt relaxed. I was ecstatic. I realised how happy I was doing abstract. Music is a big part of my artistic process; it sets my mood every time I paint. I can’t paint without music. They are intertwined.
What does “art” mean to you?
Art for me is universal, unlimited and with not enough words to describe it.
Tell us more about some of your pieces.
Euphoria is all about the happiness we feel when we do good things around us. Tie Dye Sky is about equality as I believe in the philosophy that we are all created equal.
What would you like to say to budding Filipino artists?
Find your own style in art, that’s the most important part, and never ever copy other artists. Never stop learning what you love and be inspired every day. Just paint and make sure you love every minute of it.
GABBY PRADO Visionary Terpsichorean
This dancer and visual artist believes the hurdles in life are no match to our faith in ourselves.
For Gabby Prado, abstract painting may also be executed like a dance performance on stage. Transforming movement into large-scale art, she draws out of her life experiences like a visual memory narrated through an endearing aesthetic journey. Prado finished a degree in fine arts, major in painting from the University of the Philippines. She has been a ballet dancer since she was young.
How did your passion for the arts come about?
It started in my childhood. I drew and painted a lot, using crayons and markers and I felt very attached to colours and elements. Vincent Van Gogh’s piece The Starry Night really caught my attention and it inspired me to paint in his style. I realised that art made me feel alive… I was very drawn to it because of the freedom it gave me. Apart from painting, I also took classes in ballet and contemporary dance. Soon I have learnt how dance and visual art are very connected. There were two professors from my thesis that helped me become the artist that
I am today: Katti Sta Ana and Bob Feleo. They inspired me to strive to work hard. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to paint and do exhibitions.
Name other artists who inspire you and tell us what you love about their work.
Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and Filipino artist Geraldine Javier. Both created a relationship of colour and form throughout an aesthetic experience. In their work, each element conveys a strong stroke of lines, intense colour, geometry, a form of non-objective art and a sense of spirituality. They have so many beautiful works!
What does “art” mean to you?
One of my favourite things about art is its language. I am not very good at writing, but I love colour. Art lets me share my many ideas without having to speak. It is like my personal diary.
Tell us about abstract art. How did your passion for this movement come about and how is your background in dance a big part in your artistic journey?
I danced ballet for almost 15 years and did contemporary dance for two to three years at the Halili Cruz School of Ballet. There have been times where I was very frustrated with my paintings. But when I learnt about the Serbian artist Marina Abramovic, known as “the grandmother of performance art”, I was inspired. She was a pioneer in the use of performance art as a visual art medium. I thought, why not be like her and perform with my body to express with canvas? Like visual art, dance lets me tell a story without using my mouth. Abstract Expressionists inspired me to express myself without feeling limited by my condition. I have severe hearing loss in my right ear and profound hearing loss in my left ear. Since Abstract Expressionism is characterised by spontaneity, it gave me freedom to express my story.
Tell us more about some of your pieces.
I have a form of synaesthesia called “Chromesthesia”, where colour responds to a particular sound and movement. Through the years, I have wanted to explore making visual art and producing sound to go with it. I also draw inspiration from re-evaluating my memories. Most of the time I would pick up an idea or topic and form a visual diary. My life experiences, interactions, passions, interests, reflection—all manifest in my artwork and have changed over time. They have become more challenging and more intuitive. My work has also always been about being a Filipino female artist, about the experience and about how I feel about being in that space.
What would you like to say to budding Filipino artists?
I know it is tough to keep the career going. Keep striving for your idea of the big picture, to go beyond and outside the box. In the beginning, I was afraid of what other people might say about my work. Eventually, I realised that I have created an identity for myself as an artist without my knowing. I have another advice for artists with disabilities: Don’t say “can’t”. Let your passion keep you going.
JC INTAL Varicoloured Athlete
This basketball star may be known for his moves and scores on the hardcourt but his deep-rooted passion for the visual arts led him back to his brushes.
He earned the nickname “The Rocket” for his high-flying abilities during the Slam Dunk contest of the Philippine Basketball League in 2003. But just like how he soared high with every chance he took, Intal is also now trying to make his way through the artistic court. Born in Manila, Intal discovered his interest in the arts early in life; but God has a different plan for him, and brought him to the sport of basketball. In February 2020, he opened his first solo exhibition titled, Rookie Mistake, at J Studio in Makati City. It was a homecoming for him to his first passion.
“In this series of works, a new window has opened for me to see another perspective of life … It has been a journey for me to expand and digest every simple moment of creating these paintings. Mistakes and satisfaction are both important ingredients of every single form to layer sensations,” he says.
How did your passion for the arts come about?
I started painting, drawing, and sketching when I was in grade school. I really loved art even before I started playing basketball. When I joined the varsity team in Grade 4 until I graduated from college, I stopped doing art and shifted my full focus on sports. But in between those years I would always go to museums and, from time to time, sketch and paint.
Almost three years ago I met my motorcycle friend, Jigger Cruz, who is a well-known artist today. He would invite me to his studio, and I would watch mesmerised as he painted. This was when I got the inspiration to try painting again.
Name two artists who inspire you and tell us what you love about their work.
I’m a big fan of my friend Jigger Cruz and of Antoni Micallef. I love their thick oil textures and the character of their artworks.
What does “art” mean to you?
Art for me means doing and expressing what you love about life. You create something that is connected to you and your life’s experiences. You do it without hesitation and over-thinking. You just create something that you feel at that certain moment.
Tell us about abstract art. How did your passion for this movement come about and how is your background in sports a big part in your artistic journey?
Abstractionism for me means creating something that you don’t think you’ll commit a mistake while doing it. You just look at an abstract work with your own being. We all have different styles, tastes and just by looking at an abstract work, it evolves to something really special. Playing basketball and being an athlete for two decades now taught me to be passionate and disciplined.
You can’t perform well at a high level if you don’t prepare hard for it. Same thing with art, there are no shortcuts. You must study and learn if you really want to create something really special.
Tell us more about some of your pieces.
Two artworks are special to me. The first one is Everything I Wanted, my very first oil on canvas painting. The other one is Blinded by Rainbow, which for me is the most important art piece I’ve ever created. Jigger was the reason for my doing it. It was just one random night and I didn’t realise I had been painting the whole piece for three to six hours straight.
What would you like to say to budding Filipino artists?
We have so many talented artists here in the Philippines. Just keep doing what you love and never stop learning.