Emerging Filipina Artists Hold Traveling Shows

Catch the twin solo art exhibition of up-and-coming artists Joan Honoridez and Bisai Ya, visiting three city museum and galleries between August to December this year.

AS IT IS showcases the lady artists' take on Philipine contemporary art as seen from their pieces using distinctive abstraction styles.

Fresh from joining group exhibitions locally and abroad, these two emerging Visayan artists who have never met personally are finally holding a back-to-back solo art exhibition that will take their art pieces travelling around three major cities in the country: Bacolod, Cebu and Manila.

[caption id="attachment_2633" align="alignright" width="300"] Tropical Terrain by J. Honoridez[/caption]

Joan Honoridez from Bacolod City and Bisai Ya from Cebu City only met on Facebook and since 2012 had been engaged in their art passion particularly abstract expressionism.

"Our show AS IT IS, was borne out of endless nights of online discussions, lectures, critiquing and hands-on application of learning from our online art mentor, Australia-based Filipino leading painter Arturo Cruz," shares Bisai Ya.

Bisai's works are ethereal and heavy between use of acrylics and oil. She plays a lot on light and shadow approaches using moderate strokes applied unto matte surfaces, many of which were made mostly in her transcendental moods, delving on the spontaneity of her subject with no pre-meditational rituals. "I'd like to create pieces that are uniquely individualistic yet distinguishable by my choice of light toned palettes. I would create pieces that does not utilize so much space, lines, curves or colours to accentuate my inner feelings. I stick to very minimalistic expression where less is more!," she said.

Since January 2013, Bisai and Joan both went into serious art workshop under the close supervision of master painter Arturo Cruz who is based in Australia. An artist for more than 30 years, Cruz mentored the two artists in their quest to be considered as serious abstractionists. Experiment and discover were his guiding points.

[caption id="attachment_2632" align="alignleft" width="300"] Firedance, by Bisai Ya[/caption]

"So the quest for the use of ordinary tools from the kitchen, hardware and other unlikely places became like an addiction. So much of my new pieces demonstrate gestural abstraction where by chance the end result allowed me to create distorted allegorical imageries from a variety of inspirations other than my own," Joan said.

Having a day job as court legal researcher helps Joan sustain her childhood art passion that has become full-blown when she joined the Art Association of Bacolod in 2007.

Cruz said it was an honor to be chosen as their art mentor despite the fact that he lives in Australia.

"My location might become a hindrance to our studies. However these two ladies had been adamant in asking me to teach them what I know from my passion in art. I am only obliged seeing their persistence and enthusiasm to learn. After our grueling 5 months nightly online workshops, they have this exhibit."

Cruz believes that Bisai and Joan are both equally promising with their individual styles and interests.

The three of them having only met and brainstormed on Facebook, their eventual meet up was also a historical feat in the Filipino artscape.

The art tour dates are August 13 to Sept 13 at the Negros Museum in Bacolod, then followed at Qube Gallery in Cebu from October 1-17 and the show will have its Manila leg in mid November, with venue to be advised soonest. In February 2014, GSIS Museum will be the major venue of the pair's 2014 art show series.

For complete information on show dates and venue, please contact mobile numbers +63.9334042628 and +63.9064288156 or email at bisaiartcafe@gmail.com.