Collection: Nilalaman

Group Exhibition

08:16:2022

“Nilalaman” Group Exhibit was an organized exhibit by the group “Pangkat” who started exhibiting their works on 2021 and still continues to exhibit their works in different galleries in Manila. These artists started with a group exhibit in Pinto Art Gallery and continue to grow as a group.

“Nilalaman” or Content in Art is the meaning or message that is expressed or communicated by the artist or artwork also known as ‘the why’. In understanding the content of art, it is important to note the various levels of meaning in it and by identifying differences in their meaning.

First is the factual meaning. It is the most rudimentary level of meaning for it may be extracted from the identifiable or recognizable forms in the artwork and understanding how these elements relate to one another. Just like the creation of Adan Pesito, “Sunday morning going to the mall”, Monday morning going to work (homage to Amorsolo)”, where the work is discernable and the elements are related to each other.

Second is the conventional meaning, it pertains to the acknowledged interpretation of the artwork using motifs, signs, symbols, and other ciphers as bases of its meaning. The content of the work of Germart Ortega “Quenchch your thirst”, Aan Reynales “The Sinner”, Marte Goyon “Diwata Makiling”, Ace Enriquez “Lubog hanggang tuhod”, Abril Valdemoro "Tuloy ang Laban ni Juan and Tuloy ang Laban ni Maria" and Buhay Mendoza’s “Bagani”, are more predictable in how these artists use elements in their artwork.

And third is the subjective meaning, these connotations stem from the viewer’s or audience’s circumstances that come into play when engaging with art (what we know, what we learned, what we experienced, what values and we stand for). Similar to the work of Jessa Balag “Lain” and Jerico De Leon “Mother and Child”, Jade Cabauatan “Hintay, and Jun Tuplano “Repairman”, where their painting is more personal in meaning.

Pangkat group lead us to observe and find a more profound sense in their art and give us a different interpretation and context that lead us to show more interest and new notions in their art. As Edgar Degas quote, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”.