Bullet Dematera opens a world of dreams in his sold-out exhibit
In the shade of the trees at the Nuzen Art Gallery in Tagaytay during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Ronald “Bullet” Dematera’s exhibit “Hidden Places,” which was presented both physically and virtually, was almost sold out on its very first day on Sept. 5.
Dematera’s sixth solo exhibit took its viewers to an earthy paradise, replete with various creatures combined to human figures to create fantasy hybrids with hyper-realistic features. His favorite piece, the biggest artwork in the exhibit, is the 4 x 8 Hidden Sanctuary made of a mix of flora and fauna.
In “Hidden Places,” Bullet has brought peace and a fresh perspective to his viewers despite this pandemic. He provided the paradise everyone was looking for amid the chaos.
‘The beauty of art is that it can represent things with your own view of life, dreams, and experiences.’
A virtual online exhibit also allowed Bullet to showcase his work from different angles in the comfort of their homes. “It’s a different way of navigating around the space because you are being led by your fingers or your mouse. I think the pandemic has forced us all to embrace our digital strategies much sooner than we probably thought, which is good.”
Sanctuary of Bliss, oil on canvas, 2019 
When Nature and Beauty prevail I, oil on canvas, 2020
Despite the digital improvements, Dematera still prefers the live exhibit. According to him, no matter how good of a virtual tour of an exhibition the galleries might have, or even a carefully curated selection of artwork, viewers will still now have the bodily experience of being in a space unlike the exhibit in the public art where you can see the work face to face.
“With the coronavirus outbreak changing the way everyone in the world is working and living their lives, artists like me are learning to adapt to new normal as art exhibitions are shifting to a more digital approach. The lack of deadlines gave me time to recharge. I spent most of my time working in my studio and have a lot of time to prepare for my upcoming solo exhibits,” Bullet says.
Harmony with Nature II, oil on canvas, 2020 
Hidden Beauty, oil on canvas, 2019
Bullet became interested in art when he was a child through pencil and paper. He loved to draw the various things he saw in their province in Bulacan such as flowers, trees, birds, rice fields, and mountains.
“I had the opportunity to work as an apprentice to Ronald Ventura. I learned a lot from him. I was able to refine my knowledge and improve my skills in painting, even without a formal education,” shared Bullet.
His art represents his experiences with love, nature, life, and dreams.
“Art is the expression or application of human’s creative skills and imagination. Art is my life. When I am doing art, I feel the happiness from the bottom of my heart. But the beauty of art is that it can represent things with your own view of life, dreams, and experiences,” ends Bullet.
Story by S.C. Fojas