Like the gentle rain that quenches the thirst of a parched land, Arts in the City (ARTS) livens the artistic landscape of the Global City with the opening of its visual arts module The Gallery.

A year after opening the space to students and professionals at the Bonifacio Arts Center in Taguig City, ARTS steadies its foothold as one of the city’s artistic hubs with its inaugural exhibit “Ulan sa Tag-init.” The exhibit features twenty-two Filipino artists, all lending a hand to the inception of a space that cradles artistic minds and the breeding of creative ideas.

 “The theme of “Ulan sa Tag-init” has an underlying message which is to give the world much needed relief from environmental degradation and abuse. That’s the message that the whole exhibit is trying to convey through visual arts,” says Paulito Garcia Jr., events coordinator for The Gallery.

Among the featured artists is Alex Aguilar with his intimate portrayal of everyday static sceneries. With his use of vibrant colors, Aguilar gives life to the intricate detail each subject demands. Although whimsical, his works still preserve a pensive mood coming from a macro vantage point.

Another artist that shares his work in the exhibit is RM de Leon. De Leon’s contribution pays homage to classic Filipino popular entertainment. By depicting images lifted from classic Filipino films, de Leon rouses one’s imagination and sentiment about the lingering influence of Filipino cinema towards pop culture.

Noteworthy contributions by Nap Jamir II also adorn the exhibit. With a motif that seems to draw its being from dark crevices, Jamir’s works accentuate human anatomy in a gray and gloomy tone. The pieces are further given interest with the use of layers that tear into the work, which give it depth and a mood that uncovers an intimate relationship with his subject.

A collection of such brilliant contemporary artists would not be complete without the participation of the Syjuco family. From father Cesare, mother Jean Marie to daughters Maxine, Michellene, and Beatrix, this family of artists brings life to an exhibit with pieces that induce conflict within the confines of one’s mind, with dialogues that purposely create perplexing thoughts and visuals that absorb the audience’s consciousness.

Other artists in this collection of contemporary works are Red Mansueto, Pandy Aviado, Sio Montero from Cebu, and artists based in the USA like Julian Oteysa, Marvin Santos, and Marielle Mariano.

The venue aims to bring artists and art enthusiasts together towards the proliferation of artistic expression and create a melting pot of ideas. At a time when artists are steadily gaining ground and art is rising to new heights, a center such as this is always a welcome addition to the thriving local art scene.

Aside from housing various contemporary visual arts, this hub also holds events and workshops for theater, dance, and music. “We’d like to use it as a venue to further promote arts from emerging, new, and talented young artists where they can use it to further enrich the arts and culture in the community level. We hope that this will be the contribution of this complex,” Garcia adds.