In a world teetering on the edge of darkness, visual artist and Manila Bulletin photographer Pinggot Zulueta offers a glimpse into the abyss with his new exhibit, “Obskvra.” Through 10 powerful ink works, he confronts the harsh realities of our time, urging the viewer to confront darkness not with despair but with a renewed sense of purpose.
Zulueta’s art is not for the faint of heart. His surrealistic imagery, with a focus on black and rust tones, is a stark contrast to the beauty and pleasure typically sought in art. As a former illustrator and editorial cartoonist, he uses his pen and ink on canvas as a weapon, a tool to challenge viewers and expose the uncomfortable truths we often choose to ignore.
This exhibit serves as the fifth installment in a series exploring the human condition. Zulueta, a multidisciplinary artist, has spent years looking inward, and then tackled themes of alienation and mortality in his previous exhibits “Incepto,” “Ka.thar.sis,” “Melankolia,” and “Infinitum.” Here, he presents dark surrealism, urging viewers to confront complexities of navigating the past, present, and the uncertain future.
“My artistic process is characterized by the balance between a visual expression of what I see as well as personal influences,” says the artist. “As an approach, repetitive layering using ink pen on paper continues until I feel a sense of harmony exists between the physical components and the evocative aspects of my artworks. I generate ideas through the artistic process itself. The unpredictable nature of layering—each step is a reaction to the one before—is a constant building up of an image and tearing it down. The more layers are added, the more thought-provoking the artwork becomes. This artistic process is also a metaphor for how I have been shaped by what I have experienced.”
One key work, Hereditas (Legacy), depicts a colossal stone crushing the innocent visage of Infanta Margarita, a haunting echo of Diego Velasquez’s iconic painting. This work confronts us with the weight of our choices, the shadow of the present that threatens to engulf the future. It is a challenge to consider the legacy we leave behind, a call to action to build a more sustainable and hopeful world for generations to come.
23.4x16.5 inches, 2024; DARK DAYS (Floating Cocoons), Ink on paper, 23.4x16.5 inches, 2024
Despite the bleakness, Zulueta’s art is not without hope. Earthkeeper depicts a veiled woman, a symbol of resilience and guardianship, standing amid a deteriorating landscape. This juxtaposition of beauty and decay serves as a reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet.
Other intriguing pieces include Dark Days (Floating Cocoon), a haunting image of a cocoon floating (or perhaps submerged) with the moon and clouds as its only companions, and the Bride of the Wind, which features antlers and praying hands emerging from a coral-like growth.
Zulueta believes that art has the power to shape our world. By confronting us with the darkness, he compels us to seek out the light. He challenges viewers to see the world differently, to break free from fear, and to forge a new path forward.
“Obskvra” is call to action. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, art has the power to ignite change. With each haunting image, Zulueta compels us to question, to reflect, and to fight for a brighter future.
“I feel sad for the next generation. The ruling leaders of our countries are destroying our environment. Almost every nation is at war. There’s climate change, but do they care? Is this what we’re leaving behind for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren? I hope the leaders who turn a blind eye and a deaf ear wake up. Where are we heading?” reflects Zuleta.
Don’t miss this powerful exhibit at the Art Cube Gallery, Makati City, until March 30.