Artinformal exhibits 'Five Gardens' and 'Isang Daan Taon, Isang Araw'
By Joe Priela
A response to Monet, Kahlo, and other passionate artists—and gardeners, too
‘Gertrude Jekyll (The Earth was Her Canvas I)’ by Geraldine Javier
On exhibit until Aug. 30, 2021 at Artinformal Makati, is artist Geraldine Javier’s response to a question she has been mulling over for quite a while now. Why, she asks, was a garden so important to Claude Monet, Gertrude Jerkyll, Frida Kahlo, and Derek Jarman? Why is it so important even for herself?
Through “Five Gardens,” we can attest that the garden and our personal relationship to nature have been abiding concerns for Geraldine. In both the installations and paintings, we can identify an experimental yet refined use of color and materials. In a time of climate crisis, this is an exhibit that not only offers subtle aesthetic pleasure but also suggests how we can renew and deepen our relationship with the world of plants.
Her works are to be found in museums and collections in Austria, Germany, the US, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea. In 2012, she left Manila to move to Batangas where she now lives with a garden and several dogs.
It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.
Claude Monet
Travel a few kilometers to Artinformal Greenhills and we can dive into “Isang Daan Taon, Isang Araw,” a group show curated by Norman Crisologo featuring artists Stephanie Alvarez, Bjorn Calleja, Jigger Cruz, Doktor Karayom, Lui Gonzales, Paolo Icasas, Ryan Jara, Manuel Ocampo, Bud Omeng, Lynyrd Paras, Jan Sunday, and Kiko Urquiola.
Geraldine Javier’s “Five Gardens” at Artinformal Makati and the group show “Isang Daan Taon, Isang Araw” at Artinformal Greenhills are currently on view and are open for one appointment at a time. Appointments can be made from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.