Artworks that mirror childhood dreams and people’s endurance and resilience

UPCOMING: ‘Beyond Beliefs’

WHERE: 4th level of East Wing, Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong City

For more than 30 years, Julien Tan has been an artist in the world of advertising—creating ad campaigns in his storied career with various multinational agencies, and now with his own local agency, Guerrilla Advertising.

He returns to the art circuit following the same spark of inspiration that drives his design work. But where advertising is an amalgam of synthesis and deduction, his art draws from enduring childhood memories.

Julien’s “Beyond Beliefs” features paintings inspired by reflections from his boyhood—deep personal moments experienced in the sleepy town of Roxas City in Capiz. He explores these in various ways through painting, drawing, and cryptic text. His art aims to capture seemingly mundane events we often take for granted yet become the most vulnerable parts of our lives later on. His approach is unintentional, like following the randomness of children at play. There are glimpses of childlike strokes, recreating fragments of memories from bygone years.

“Beyond Beliefs” opens on June 1 and runs until June 15.

ONGOING: ‘ImaheNacion’

WHERE: Art Lounge Manila - Molito in Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Francis Nacion’s 13th solo exhibition, “ImaheNacion,” gives us glimpses of the artist’s memories with his mother. Francis fondly shares how his mother used to sew his school uniform. He would play around with loose textiles from his mother’s work, and little did he know that he will turn his childhood works of art into reality.

The artist integrates his own style using textiles, colors, lines, and shapes which will be seen in his first-ever solo abstract exhibition. Additionally, this show is the artist’s tribute to his mother who is a picture of love, hard work and care for their family.

“ImaheNacion” runs until June 12.

ONGOING: 'Que Sera, Sera'

WHERE: Arte Bettina, 3rd Level, Greenbelt 5, Makati City

In “Que Sera, Sera,” bright and rising art stars Summer de Guia and Ron Mariñas take us through the conflicting journey of tomorrow's unknowns and promises. Through their potent figurative works, we see and experience fear and anxiety but also inspiration, meditation, and excitement. Ultimately, both artists' works serve to champion those who rise up again and again. This exhibit is one of the strengths needed to meet tomorrow face to face and serves to remind us that while the eponymous song is right: while the future is not ours to see, it is, however, ours to write. In acknowledging that tomorrow simultaneously brings both the terror of the unknown and the potential hope of better days, de Guia and Mariñas have built a tribute to the human spirit of endurance and resilience. JC Barcelon

“Que Sera, Sera” runs until June 4.

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