‘This is my personal life and my journey in the art scene’

Award-winning artist Melvin Guirhem may have earned national attention for his vivid fabric art that can speak of collective experiences, but he is still deeply rooted in Iloilo.

Following his grand prize win at the Philippine Art Awards (PAA) in 2020, Melvin’s seventh solo exhibition at Eskinita Art Gallery in Makati City explores the challenges a contemporary Filipino artist faces while living outside the nation’s capital.

In “Salimu-ot” (complex), Melvin stitches together his role as a husband, a family man and an artist in Iloilo.

“This is my personal life and my journey in the art scene,” Melvin tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle.

The collection of fabric and thread pieces and acrylic paintings in “Salimu-ot” foremost looks into Melvin’s personal life, especially with his wife Recheal.

The 6x8 feet fabric and thread piece “Entablado” (Stage) is Melvin’s magnum opus in this collection. The piece resembles a theater stage, wherein Melvin and his wife are characters in a theatrical play. It speaks of their hope, faith, and love as they overcome the social forces that wanted to keep them apart.

Melvin accompanies their love story with the acrylic painting “Hakus” (Hug) that portrays their unbreakable bond while the fabric art “Scars” conveys the pain they had to endure.

“Salimu-ot” validates the artistic versatility of Melvin, who can both paint and create fabric art—a style seen to be more suited for women as it involves sewing and stitching. But this does not bother the Ilonggo artist.

“As long as I can portray what I want to express, then I know my work is effective,” he says.

Melvin’s introduction to fabric art is courtesy of his lola (grandmother), who made something out of the retaso (scraps of clothing) purchased at Jaro Market in Iloilo City. As a young boy, he observed how his lola would sew together the scraps of clothing that would eventually be made into blankets, pillow covers or curtains. He realized that there’s artistry in his lola’s creations.

While “Salimu-ot” is very personal to Melvin, the exhibition also touches on the role of artists in their communities, especially in Iloilo where social connections intertwine in far smaller circles.

“When you’re an artist, you are practically open for criticism. Your art and your actions will be scrutinized. You can be built or destroyed ,” Melvin emphasizes.

As a co-founding member of Baysulangpu Artists Society, Melvin is a firm believer that artists must be socially responsible and their art must jibe with their actions.

“As an artist, you are responsible for your actions. You cannot portray the situation of society, whether it is positive or negative, if you are not transparent and not true to yourself,” he adds.

“Salimu-ot” is also a celebration of Melvin as an Ilonggo—an Ilonggo artist who can create a niche in the national art scene despite choosing to stay close to home.

“You have to be proud of where you’re from regardless if there are those who are not happy with what you have achieved,” he points out.

Melvin did try his luck in Metro Manila, but didn’t last long there. He became stagnant and realized that his art is tied to Iloilo.

“My connection is not there. My effectiveness is not there. My roots are not there,” he explains.

Melvin is an Ilonggo and will continue to hone his art in Oton, the town he now calls home that is just outside the borders of Iloilo City.