The painter as political chronicler

Charlie Co and his “Urban Kristo” —CARLA P. GOMEZ

BACOLOD CITY—He likes to chronicle events that interest him—personal, political, etc. But Charlie Co does not write about them.

“I paint what I see and hear from everyday situations, be  it personal, satirical or sociopolitical,” said Co, who is based in Silay City in Negros Occidental province.

Once he feels the need to pick up the brush and pour his emotions on canvas, that’s the time he becomes informational. His works are his way of “urging viewers to be aware of what’s happening around us.”

It is not surprising that Co’s latest art installation, “Bombarded,” is about the horrors of the Syrian civil war that unfolded in Aleppo. Last month, it was one of the features of Art Fair Philippines’ exhibit at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.

“War that has been in existence for thousands of years has greatly affected society and culture, demolishing not just cities, but humanity, as well, in its aftermath,” Co said.

Bombarded features five life-size fiberglass sculptures depicting soldiers walking blindly through the rubble as bombs fall from the sky. Suffering children are depicted by a mangled doll buried in the ruins.

Another work, “On My Watch,” will be exhibited at Altro Mondo in Manila in April. It is Co’s version of the horrors in Aleppo and how the civil war is hurting not just Syria but the whole world.

“The children, most especially, are the victims,” Co said.

Current events depicted in his works had earned him the distinction of being a “chronicler of times.”

His surreal art is known to provoke and inspire reflection on issues that pique his interest.

Co did not limit himself to his favorite medium—oil on canvas. He is also known for mixed-media works combining terra cotta sculptures and oil on wood, oil pastel on paper, and pen and ink.

His works have found space in private and public collections of prestigious institutions here and abroad. These include the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Singapore Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, Metropolitan Museum and Lopez Museum in Manila and Bencab Museum in Baguio City.

“Gone Mad” by Charlie Co

The exposure brought several awards.

One of these is the “13 Artists Award” given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Other awards include “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan” given by the City of Manila and the “Dr. Jose Rizal Award for Excellence” given by the Chinese-Filipino group Kaisa and a newspaper.

Co has represented the Philippines in international exhibitions. He was a finalist in the 4th Philip Morris Art Awards in 1997 and bagged the Juror’s Choice in the 6th Philip Morris Art Awards in 1999.

Co has exhibited his works in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.

Co has started mentoring budding and struggling young artists.

He is cofounder of Black Artists in Asia and the Visayan Islands Visual Artists Exhibition Conference and runs a gallery in Bacolod City, Gallery Orange, a venue for upcoming local artists.