AVANT GARDENER
This week, a group exhibit by Pablo Capati III, Geraldine Javier, Paulo Lozano, Mikee Naval, and Jose Solon Perfecto called Terroir and Tapestries opens at Aphro Living, The Alley at Karrivin Plaza in Makati.
Terroir is a French term that refers to the distinct environment in which a wine’s grapes are grown, with factors that include but are not limited to the type of soil, water, and climate. Its use has spread to other types of food and drink, and now, to pottery.
I interviewed ceramic artist Jose Solon Perfecto about his use of clay and ash from his studio in La Union for the pieces in this exhibit. Perfecto discovered pottery when he was eight, training under master potter John Pettyjohn. He temporarily switched careers before moving to La Union in 2018 to build his studio and pursue his love of surfing.
“Our latest exhibit Terroir & Tapestries is about how the artist and the work are both affected by the terroir and how this changes the psyche of the artist and the physical work, as the seasons pass,” he said.
“As a transplant leaving Manila for La Union, my artistic process and the art evolved. My latest works for this exhibit are abstract expressionist executions of classic pottery forms that are altered and raw, as well as self-portrait sculptures made from multiple deconstructed pottery pieces stacked and joined together. These are symbols of the person as a vessel.”
His interest in the land began when he was a cigar professional for Tabacalera Incorporada, a post he held for over six years. “I started as a sales executive, but my roles grew, which included some research and development, and purchasing of new cigar tobacco bales. I was exposed to the agronimics side of the business, which like wine, dealt a lot with the terroir, and also the introduction of mineralities into the soil to mimic the leaf qualities of certain global regions such as Cuba.”
Speaking about the pieces in the exhibit, he says, “The concept of terroir ceramics blends the language of cigar and winemaking with ancient Japanese techniques of making generational pottery using the materials available in their town and surrounding area.
“I execute this by foraging and processing riverside and mountainside red clays abundant in my area, as well as the ash of rice straw and hull, and the wood of the two mango trees outside my house. I live at the foot of a mountain protected as a forest reserve, in a valley that is [composed of] mostly rice fields. It is also less than a kilometer away from the coast.
“I always state the year and time of harvest, to signify that each year’s material, even if harvested and foraged from the same sources, can change in color, viscosity, and overall characteristics.”
It’s always interesting when an artist grounds their work in a sense of place, particularly when they incorporate items from these into the piece. As Perfecto said, “In the world of commercial professional art materials used by thousands of artists worldwide, using local materials makes the work stand out. It not only creates a final artwork that is unique but also reflects the relationship the artist has with nature and the surroundings. The beauty of using natural material in art is that there is always a level of control you give away to let the natural material show its unique characteristics.
Perfecto plans on continuing his passion for Filipino table culture and terroir ceramics. He also has a few shows lined up next year. If there’s one thing he hopes guests will take away from the exhibit, it’s this: “Filipino art is actually mostly made using terroir, and contemporary Filipino ceramics is a medium that can showcase not only the ideas and skills of an artist but also stress the importance of using terroir to make Filipino art.”
When most Filipinos think of earthenware, they tend to think of palayoks and other clay cooking vessels, and how they are so much a part of the Filipino kitchen that they are devoid of aesthetic value beyond the kitsch. Exhibits like this hope to change that.
“There is a place for Philippine-made ceramics and pottery in their homes and kitchens. Filipino table culture and ceramics go hand-in-hand, and part of our goals is to make meaningful vessels to celebrate and enjoy our own cuisine.”
I can’t find any information on how long the exhibit will run, but there will be an Artist Talk with Jose Solon Perfecto on Aug. 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Aphro Living, The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, Makati Ci