Creating connections

Our lives are made up of connections, of long lines of stories connecting us to every person we encounter—our loved ones and our enemies. These connections are what inspired Jay Ragma to create his collection of lines in his exhibit “Bridges,” which runs until Oct. 28 at the Galerie Roberto.

Made up of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines—with varying hues and weights—intertwining with each other or paralleled together, Ragma’s creation symbolizes the journey of life, always moving, meeting, leaving, traveling.

“The exhibit was inspired by my brother who had to go through rehab because of his addiction. It’s all about time and connection, that everything happens for a reason. Everything that happened to our family was unexpected. But we had to endure it and go through it. His rehab center is named ‘Bridges of Hope,’ that’s where I got the title for the show,” he says.

Like life, everything about Ragma’s exhibit is spontaneous and unplanned. All of it are just random connections of linear patterns. “Unplanned yet beautiful. That’s the concept of my show.”

His accidental and almost-rejected series Deep Roots is a threadwork that means “Kahit putol na ang halaman hangga’t ang ugat nito’y malalim at malago, tutubo pa rin ito at magkakaroon ng panibagong isbong mula sa lupa (Plants grow back after you cut them, as long as their roots are deeply rooted in the soil).”

‘I want my viewers to feel hope with my artworks, no matter how hard the situation may be. My works are a combination of systematical and chaotic arrangement of lines—controlled and uncontrolled ideas.’

The three-dimensional thread art made up of black threads and yarns also shows the dark side of life, that it can crush us to the ground, from which we may re-emerge beautifully. It is a series that tells us that life will give us endless second chances to start all over again.

“I want my viewers to feel hope with my artworks, no matter how hard the situation may be. My works are a combination of systematical and chaotic arrangement of lines—controlled and uncontrolled ideas. I call this style ‘Ragmatics’—ragma and kinetics—inspired by the word pragmatism. These are logical and concrete ideas combined with visual kinetics,” says Ragma.

“Bridges” is Ragma’s celebration of life, including its joys and sadness, set in threads, yarns, and lines. As the viewers travel across his various paralleled and unparalleled lines, they will fall in love with their own lives and all its ups and downs.

The exhibit is not just Ragma’s way of expressing himself, but also his way of sharing his story with the hope that it will help someone in need. “What happened to my brother was difficult for me and my family. But instead of dwelling on sadness, I chose to express it through my art. Some things in life will never make sense but changing your perspective is all it takes to get you inspired,” he ends.

Galerie Roberto is located at Unit 4, Molito Lifestyle Extension Bldg., Madrigal Ave. corner Commerce Ave., Alabang, Muntinlupa City. www.galerieroberto.com