Exhibitions

In times when an artist's fear of stagnancy hinders their growth, Edwin Wilwayco instead continues to render artworks that continue to push his own limits. This energetic artist not only polishes his oeuvre with fresh and bold subjects but constantly keeps his diverse collectors in eager anticipation of the latest of what it is he has to offer.

Wilwayco opens 2017 by exhibiting two divergent shows opening at The Gallery, located at The Ground Floor of 8 Rockwell at the Rockwell Complex in Makati this Tuesday, January 24 at 6 pm. The show runs until January 31 before the works transfer to Galerie Stephanie and to Galerie Joaquin. What is unique about this project is that the two exhibits, "Luminans" organized by Galerie Stephanie and "Octo Gravitas" by Galerie Joaquin will have a simultaneous run allowing collectors of his works to enjoy a binary visual treat.

"Octo Gravitas" is presented as an intelligently strategized explosion of colors using a substrate of designs and patterns as a base. The works lean heavily on the concept of spontaneity with a firm focus on the prevailing figures of eight in the chosen canvases reflecting the fortuitous figure eight. These figures of eight conjure a sense of balance amidst thick and heavy swabs of color. Gravitas only helps emphasize the weight and importance of the figure in the entire composition of the pieces. What "Octo Gravitas" artworks succeed in is in imbibing a sense of mystery to the prevailing stage of the artworks' backgrounds lively and applauding colors.

In direct contrapunto to the Octo Gravitas works, the "Luminans" pieces commence from a minimalist perspective. In this second set of works, Wilwayco does away with the substrate, reverting back to his pure think pigments using mainly black, white and gray but with just selected nuanced shades of reds and greens. He succeeds in making the non-colors resonate with a deeper spirituality through his vigorous and muscular manipulation of his pigments.

"Luminans" is an amalgamation of Wilwayco's previous themes inspired by nature such as his "Whispering Winds" "Moving Mountains" and his "Rivercircles" series. Matisse once remarked that a colorist's skills are even made more evident when working in black and white. Wilwayco certainly does no less in this exhibition. For more information contact 02-7239418 or 02-7091488 or visit www.galeriejoaquin.comor www.galeriestephanie.com.