Al Cruz examines how reality can imitate art and vice-versa in his second one-man exhibit, picture, painting, theater, movie, window, mirror, at West Gallery (Gallery 1, West Avenue, Quezon City). The exhibit will run from February 12 to March 19. It all begins with the process of seeing a picture as a painting, a painting as theater, theater as a movie, a movie as a window - the picture, painting, theater and movie as windows, and finally, all four windows as mirrors. Each is a reflection of one art form to another and until they come full circle and mirror what is perceived as reality. Explains Cruz, “An image is captured by a camera. The camera can be both artist and audience. Both artist and audience interpret the images according to how they see it. The artist is the audience; the audience can be the artist. They are [both] observers.” The show features paintings and an installation of a mirror. Subjects are based on photocopies of images from the Internet, photographs by the artist, and an appropriated image and digital text-work. Adds Cruz, “The images suggest absence, nothingness, silence, being mute - a show of blankness - a no-show.” “In this blankness are the hidden meanings interpreted by the audience as they see the show. The show also recognizes that painting/visual art is a form of spectacle in itself - a show, a form of entertainment like a theatrical play or a movie. The gallery space can be seen as a stage or a movie house. It recognizes the role of the audience as observer of the spectacle…The objective is to come out with a reflective show - a reflection on certain issues such as the connection of visual arts to other art forms and the important role the audience needs to play as observer.” Cruz majored in studio arts at the University of the Philippines.
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