3 Artists Explore Uncommon Grounds at OWG

3 Artists Explore Uncommon Grounds at OWG

The OWG Creative Centre presents "On Common Ground, Uncommon Grounds", a three-man exhibition of abstract works by Demosthenes Campos, Rick Hernandez and Resty Tica. The exhibit features three series of non-representationa l works using non-traditional media and techniques, as well as unconventional composition.

Campos, Hernandez and Tica are all multi-awarded graduates of the Technological University of the Philippines, whose works have been spotlighted in several high-profile group exhibitions for more than ten years. Despite their different approaches to abstraction, the three artists build on these very differences in media, technique and their individual choice of a surface or ground, as a unifying theme for their collection as a whole.

Demosthenes Campos favours layering as a technique to harmonize a variety of materials such as acrylic, wax and resin. His aptly titled "Sapin-sapin" series showcases the richly textured results of this method, contrasting the different visual and tactile properties of each medium used on a solid black plane. Among Campos' many distinctions are First Place in the "Guhit Malasakit Para Sa Kapaligiran" Street Mural Group Painting Contest, the Grand Prize in the Spray Art Contest by Pylox, and the Third Prize in the Mixed Media Category during the 59th Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Competition.

Rick Hernandez displays his masterful use of collage in his collection of pieces using old paper from various sources. Loose monoprints, random scrawls and paint spatters resembling a child's drawings roam freely across a series of 16 surfaces in no particular order. Titled "This is just here, you are just there," Hernandez' works challenge the viewers to take his collages at face value. "There is no meaning behind it," Hernandez explains. "All is what you see, don't look for anything that is not there." Hernandez' list of honours includes Best Entry awards in the Digital Fine Arts and Digital Graphic Design Categories in the First Annual Digital Arts Competition, and Finalist honours in the annual Metrobank art competitions.

Resty Tica employs traditional painting techniques in tandem with digital printing on canvas, in order to create illusions that defy definitions of reality. Inspired by his love for customizing and restoring old Vespas, his "Junk" series is replete with nuts, bolts and screws, resulting in works with a three-dimensional feel. Also a print graphic artist for ABS-CBN, Tica is a recipient of the Grand Prize of the PLDT-DPC Telephone Directory Cover Art Competition, as well as the Artist of the Year Award of the T.U.P. Gawad Pagkilala sa Sining. He also reached the finalist and semi-finalist listings of several prestigious art contests such as the Shell National Student Art and Metrobank art competitions.

"On Common Ground" runs from November 27 to December 27, 2007 at OWG Creative Centre, Ground Floor 2241 La Fuerza Plaza II, Don Chino Roces Ave. corner Sabio St., Makati City. Gallery hours are from 10am-7pm daily except Sundays. For inquiries, call or fax 8192074, e-mail inquiry@owg.cc, or visit www.owg.cc.