By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Renowned Filipino artist Manuel Ocampo is currently showcasing his unique artistic approach in his first solo exhibition in Iloilo City at the Mamusa Art Gallery (beside ILOMOCA) in the Festive Walk area of Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park.
The solo show dubbed “POTPOURRI FOR MADHOUSE” features a combination of eight visceral canvases of diverse elements or ideas that embraces the chaotic and unpredictable aspects of life.
Ocampo’s unique and unconventional works were titled Esta es la vida (this is the life), Jeff & Elon, Landscape painting with trash can, As life travels on (A duck in search of the 20th century icon), Culture vulture 1 and 2, La joie de vivre (the joy of living), and Ducks going their own way.
With vivid and explicit imagery, Ocampo delves into the complex and multifaceted nature of human existence as he embodies his artistic philosophy of embracing “no program, no style, no direction.”
“I have no time for specialized concerns, working themes, or variations that lead to mastery. I steer clear of definitions. I don’t know what I want. I am inconsistent, non-committal, passive; I like the indefinite, the boundless; I like continual uncertainty,” Ocampo said.
The exhibit opened on May 17 and will run until June 10, 2023.
