FEBRUARY 16 SHOWS AT Silverlens | SLab | 20SQUARE

Feb 16 Shows at Silverlens SLab 20SQUARE
Show Dates: February
16- March 19
Opening Reception: February 16, Wednesday, 6-9pm

Up next in Silverlens Gallery, are three new shows opening on February 16, Wednesday. We have a two-man show with Poklong Anading and Gary-Ross Pastrana, new works by SLab artist Mariano Ching, and solo show by young artist Dexter Fernandez.

Poklong Anading and Gary-Ross Pastrana’s show, Between Signs is a coming together of sorts. For more than 10 years, they have exhibited together in countless group shows both in Manila and abroad, but "they never really looked deeper and attempted to articulate… certain intersections of themes, concerns and imagery" That is, until now…

As a first for Anading and Pastrana, the show "embodies this semblance of correspondence or likeness, with a tacit attempt to blur the distinction between who-made-what." With photographs, sculptural installations, and mixed-media presentations, Between Signs is project of two artists who "follow similar maps but still go in very distinct journeys".

Mariano Ching is known for his characteristic style, look and ideas. In his upcoming show, Even Bad Days are Good, Ching presents four large paintings that yes, are uniquely his, but also full of surprises. The works are a series of portraits of human-like beings, whose faces have a world of their own. Beyond imagination, Ching’s works mix the strange, grotesque and ugly with the natural, funny and bright.

Dexter Fernandez’s second solo show is entitled \m/ . The title is the emoticon for “rock on”, symbolizing the hand sign normally reserved for rockstars and the coolest of the cool.

Fernandez’s show is a different take on worship, idolizing, and icons. He takes a look at the image of Jesus Christ, who Fernandez always saw as a “stereotypical rock star, revered and loved”. Christ’s “long chestnut hair, thick beard, aura” have parallels with the idolization of rockstars today. Rockstars have their own following, and are given their own “altars” of posters.

“This show is not anti-religion or anti-rockstar in any way. It's basically anti-norm”, Fernandez explains. With sculptures, Fernandez questions today’s definition and corruption of worship and its dependence on the “image”.