UP Cebu professor opens month-long art exhibit

A FACULTY of the Fine Arts program of the University of the Philippines Cebu opened an exhibit of abstract artworks last July 6.

Prof. Jose Villacin Jr.’s solo exhibit titled “Rediscovering the Flight of Angels” opened at the Bluewater Gallery of Maribago Beach Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

Featured are Villacin’s recent paintings on multidimensional canvass with motifs like wings, arcs and horns made of organic materials like fibers, gauze, recycled paper and acrylic.

Villacin said the works are inspired by spirituality and anachronism.

He said his objective is to reproduce a new kind of image using a different form.

“It is not religious but spiritual,” he said.

“The images are not defined. You cannot distinguish them since everything is just an element.”

These works are Villacin’s means to connect his visual art from 1992 to the present. He said that through his artworks he can give back to nature.

“I believe in the give and take process so these artworks are my way to give back to life,” he said.

Prof. Dennis Montera, Villacin’s colleague and former student, described Villacin’s new works as more prophetic.

UP Cebu Dean Liza Corro said Villacin’s artworks are high forms of art.

“The harder you stare at them, the more you could see the layering and how tedious was the work that was done,” she said.

She encouraged the school’s Fine Arts students and faculty to hold more exhibits to further showcase UP Cebu talents.

“We’ve been known to be academically competent; it’s time to expand our creative and research works to catapult our university,” she said.

The exhibit is open until August 6.