How far will go to get what we want, or do we just leave it to faith? Norberto Roldan examines this phenomenon in his new exhibit, Esperanza y Caridad, which runs from January 18 to 30 at West Gallery, SM Megamall.
The terms “hope and charity” serve as the springboard to these new pieces. Roldan, who hails from a family of architects but chose to concentrate in the field of advertising and eventually visual arts, builds miniature shrines consisting of old photos and potent items commonly known as anting-anting. They reflect not just Christian values, but the people’s penchant to seek help based on animist beliefs. One of the larger works, measuring 4 x 8 feet, tackles such dichotomy. Roldan says themes like war, religion, and politics have been always been a part of the whole discourse of his art, often using one major theme to explore visual means to articulate what is on his mind.
Roldan, also a graphic designer, adds that he thinks about such recurring ideas every day. The more challenging part of the process is collecting the materials that might aid him in visualizing those ideas. Roldan says sometimes it takes him years searching for the right materials, especially those you don’t see every day. That is why Roldan makes sure that every time he has an out-of-town trip, he drops by public markets where he can buy rare, indigenous items. Then finding time to work on the assemblages is another matter—to Roldan, it is really a passion, and he tries to make time for it even when he is busy with his day job, devoting an average of four to six hours a day working on his assemblages when he’s preparing for an art exhibit. “I do not see them as separate.” Says Roldan on pursuing his art and his job as a graphic designer: The day job affords him his basic necessities while his art gives him a deeper personal satisfaction.
Having exhibited here and abroad, Roldan also thinks his perspective has widened over the years. “I can now better visualize and articulate my ideas. And when it comes to execution, I have become sharper, finding the appropriate application of materials, and the [necessary] language and visual vocabulary.”
“Every step is interesting. I paint, too,” notes Roldan, countering existing digital technology with traditional two-dimensional art. A large 8 x 8 feet work may stem from smaller digital studies. “I am surprised by the end-result,” say Roldan, who also runs the alternative art space, Green Papaya.
Roldan studied fine arts, majoring in advertising, at the University of Santo Tomas.
Documentation
