Exhibitions

How does one capture the beautiful and unpredictable nature of life? After all, the world is given meaning by the presence of life. Soren Kierkegaard said that life is a reality that is to be experienced. We feel it when we go beyond ourselves to understand its beauty. We see it through the forms it chooses to take—foliage, fauna, and all its colors. Life surrounds us, and artists have long sought to understand its beauty.

One such artist is Rustom Cleofe “Ombok” Villamor (b. 1979), whose recent oeuvre is characterized by fascinating abstractions of life-forms. The resulting paintings are organic narratives that bring out the rich dynamism and energy of life. This is keeping with the artist’s own explorations of nature---particularly his experience living on the shores of his native Samar. The ethereal paintings are most reminiscent of sea-life – a direct link to the artist’s roots – but they also celebrate the delights of other life-forms. In many cases, his paintings take on an almost spiritual essence—looking like they are floating life-nurturing galaxies in the middle of the vacuum of space.

There is an aesthetic line that can be drawn between Ombok’s work and the practice of Modernist stalwart Raul Isidro, specifically their use empty spaces to contrast dynamic abstract forms. This is not surprising—Isidro, who is also a native of Samar, served as a mentor to the younger Ombok. But there is more vitality in Ombok’s paintings, more verve and vigor. His paintings are clear fetes of life, and in this manner Ombok finds a way to differentiate himself from his contemporary peers.

Ombok Villamor’s latest works will be displayed at Galerie Joaquin for his 5th solo exhibition, entitled “Vivere.” Spanish for “to live,” the works are a testament to the passion that Ombok has to life in all its forms. The exhibit will be open for viewing to the public beginning Friday, 22 January 2016 at Galerie Joaquin’s Ground Floor Centre Gallery. “Vivere” is part of a double show along with Juvenal Sanso’s “Fields Abloom.” Galerie Joaquin is located at 371 P. Guevarra Street corner Montessori Lane in San Juan City and runs until February 5. For more information on the exhibition, please call (632) 723-9418, or visit www.galeriejoaquin.com

Ombok Villamor is a product of North West Samar State University, where he graduated with a degree in Architecture. A professional graphic artist, Ombok has gained recognition from a variety of award-giving bodies, including being a Finalist in the Non-Representational Category at the 2015 GSIS Art Competition, and a Semi-Finalist in the Oil Category of the 2002 ArtPetron National Student Art Competition. A proud Visayan, his works have been included in the prestigious VIVA EXCON Biennale in Bohol and Bacolod.

His new works for “Vivere” echo the primordial aspects of life and herald a new exciting chapter in Ombok’s career. “Vivere” will be opened along with internationally renowned Juvenal Sanso’s “Fields Abloom” exhibit in the upstairs Main Gallery. Showcasing the Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee’s floral and landscape works on paper, the two exhibits complement each other in the way they celebrate life. Sanso’s exhibition is also a precursor to his year-long retrospective, “Timeless Sanso: 70 Years in Art,” with important exhibits in Museo Sanso, UP Vargas Museum, Ayala Museum, Ateneo Art Gallery, Lopez Museum, and the Kalaw Ledesma Foundation.