Island painter Alma Ang from Virac, Catanduanes is in two art exhibits in Metro Manila.
The first is the Bikol Expression exhibit at SM Megamall Art Center called Sarong Dekada which opened June 4 with artists from different Bicol provinces led by Pancho Piano participating.
The other exhibit at LRI Design Plaza in Makati City is called AssertiEVE at Galerya Amalia. It opened June 5 and will run until June 30.
Ang talks about her entries at the SM Megamall Art Center exhibit called Nightfall, Amore and Garden of Light. “Nightfall is inspired by the serene and captivating beauty of nature as it transitions from day to night, capturing the silhouettes of birds and the calming atmosphere. Amore draws from the profound emotions of love and connection, represented through the elegance and grace of the mandarin duck. Garden of Light is inspired by the vibrant and blooming beauty of flowers and birds.”
Art critic Cid Reyes observed that Ang has been creating pattern and decoration paintings even as he noted the island painter found solace, tranquility, and pure happiness in that setting.
“Her innate sensitivity guides her towards vibrant, luminous, and joyful hues, and she can also bring structure and balance to many recurring patterns and motifs. Furthermore, her artwork possesses a discernible Philippine charm, spirituality, and humor!” Reyes pointed out.
He said the viewer will be captivated by Alma’s choice of the carabao, a creature typically associated with hard labor and depicted as wallowing in filth or mindlessly grazing but now adorned with flowers, adding a charming and enchanting touch. “The carabao has become a symbol of purity and hard work, devoid of any cunning or deceit, in a dreamlike world reminiscent of Disneyland, filled with romance and daydreams. It has transformed into a soothing and reassuring presence. The beast’s hairy hide has been meticulously depicted using delicate, hyperrealist brushstrokes,” he added.
The art critic opined Ang’s artworks undeniably mirror her emotions, instincts, and pursuit of aesthetic pleasure. “They deliberately exclude any hint of anguished emotions, storms, stress, or spiritual turmoil, commonly found in many contemporary artworks. Unperturbed and fearless, Alma confidently embarks on spontaneously showcasing her delectable and magnificent assortment of decorative patterns and designs.”
Born in Virac, Catanduanes to a Chinese father and a Filipina mother, Maria Alma Ang took up Bachelor of Science in Advertising at the College of Holy Spirit.
To widen her experience in the creative field, she had a short stint in animation before earning a degree in advertising and later immersed in arts and crafts after a short course in doll making.
Returning to her island province in Catanduanes, she kept herself busy as she did stuff toys and letters and designing on tees, quilted bags and throw pillows.
On the side, she applied her creative inclination as a wedding planner and stylist until she realized her heart was really into painting.
In 2015, she started painting on the subject of Mother and Child and got used to the challenge of her creative calling. “The subject is close to me because it reflects on how I regard the Blessed Virgin and the Baby Jesus.”
It took a while to get started and a lot of reflection before she wrapped up one work after another. The good feedback she found very encouraging and decided she will devote more time on her renewed creative process. She picked up her brushes one more time and turned to sketching.
“I simply loved the difficult challenge and the hard work that goes with it. It comes naturally to me because as far as I can remember, I have been drawing ang sketching and cutting art papers and making cards out of them. In grade school, my favorite subject was art and I think I figuratively lived it until I earned a degree,” she said.
Over the years, she has done more than 60 works among them the paintings in the Bikol Expression exhibit and the AssertiEVE: The Power of a Voice exhibit at the LRI Design Plaza which is a celebration of women’s triumph in the visual arts. “It has been a pleasure to meet and get to know some of the amazing women who create in the field of art,” said she.
She has so far participated in four group exhibitions from which she learned the importance of networking, the value of receiving constructive criticism, and the joy of connecting with audiences who appreciate her work. “I have been painting on and off since 2012. Due to other work commitments, I pursued painting part-time until 2022 when I decided to focus on it full-time. My growth as a painter includes exploring abstract styles and being recognized for my work in pattern and decoration.
As critic Reyes observed,“’The impulse to adorn’ in the words of Amy Golding, the movement historian, is a fundamental aspect of Alma’s art. As Alma and the French would say, and certainly Matisse, ‘Chacun a son gout!’ To each his own taste!”
(Alma Ang is in two Metro Manila exhibitions shows running simultaneously at SM Megamall Arts Center and at Galerya Amalia in LRI Design Plaza located at 210 Nicanor Garcia, II, Makati, Metro Manila. Contact person is Morris Labana at cell 09611692875 or email: galerya.amalia@gmail.com)