Hubert San Juan announces his foray into the art scene by calling out “Watch Out for Falling Debris,” the title of his first one-man exhibit. San Juan uses discarded construction materials and turn them into towering art pieces. On going until May 11 at West Gallery, West Avenue, Quezon City.
This may be his firs one-man exhibit, but San Juan is no stranger to the art scene. He has been assisting artist-friends and colleagues in their own shows, either helping them out with materials, or with needed labor. San Juan says his artist-friends have been encouraging him to come up with his own show, and he finally accepted Rock Drilon’s invitation last year to join a group exhibit. At the time San Juan only mounted one installation piece, but for Watch Out for Falling Debris, he increases that number to five. San Juan still uses materials he finds at scrap yards, being fascinated at how these discarded, rusty nuts and bolts and old scaffolding can still be patched together and become an intriguing art piece.
One work involves an eight-foot tall glass tube that is filled with nuts and bolts. Another includes columns of stacked scaffoldings. “It’s a matter of collecting the materials, knowing that these are massive works. And it’s also a matter of placing these in the gallery, but we already have a floor plan,” says San Juan, who also consults with artist Nilo Ilarde. “It’s exciting, but I also feel nervous.”
The works on display are purely to satisfy one’s need for another creative outlet. San Juan is still very much involved with his interior design projects, and also dabbles with furniture design. Being a member of the UP Artists’ Circle helps him keep in touch with artist-colleagues. “The artists I’ve helped in the past are also excited for me.” Says San Juan. Such support also makes it easy for San Juan to have the confidence to work spontaneously from the scrap yard straight to the gallery. “I love working with metal,” he says, and corrosion and aging of the materials challenge him even more.
Hubert San Juan studied interior design at the Philippine School of Interior Design.
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