WE ARE AIMLESS

In We Are Not Aimless, a group of illustrators challenge the traditional roles of illustration, and attempt to dissect preconceived notions of illustration as an ancillary, and occasionally derivative art form – a slave to text and creative supervision. The artists argue that as a craft and as a practice, illustration is evolving. Now, there is the notion of the illustrator as author, an originator of ideas as intellectually valid as any written text. In this evolving role, illustrations need not slavishly follow the written text but rather complement it. Illustrations become visual distillations of an idea and at its best can now stand alone as complete works of art, making it work as both an image for a commercial space or an artefact for the gallery wall.

The artists in this exhibit are examples of the Philippine’s rising crop of illustrators as authors. They are progenitors of their own ideas and they push the role of illustration within the Philippine context by creating works that are driven by distinct personal visions. Artists include Abi Goy, A.J. Omandac, Aldy Aguirre, Allan Balisi, Apol Sta. Maria, Brian Vallesteros, Bru Sim, Dan Matutina, Dex.Fernandez, Dina Gadia, Epjey Pacheco, Froilan Calayag, Ivan Despi, Jason Moss, Kat Medina, Katwo Purtollano, Lala Gallardo, Manix Abrera, Marcushiro Nada, Mariano Ching, Mica Cabildo, Pepper Roxas, Pergyline Acuna, Rommel Joson, Tof Zapanta, WeWillDoodle, Zeus Bascon. Also in the crop are Eeshaun, a Singaporean visual artist, and Mel Stringer, an Australian illustrator.

Many of these illustrators have worn different hats. Some are designers and gallery exhibitors, while others have made comics and children’s books or even their own merchandise. Time and again, their works have spilled over to a variety of media and objects, some commissioned and others intensely personal.

This exhibition opens on January 22, 2011 at the 2nd floor gallery of Manila Contemporary, and will close on February 6. Manila Contemporary is located at Whitespace, 2314 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City, Philippines. For inquiries about the exhibition, please contact David Loughran at 844-7328 / d.loughran@manilacontempoary.com