Portraits and Scenes

CEBU, Philippines - There's a Hemingway-esque appeal to be found in artistic portraits, one which can be described as decorative yet abstract in success-fully satisfying aesthetic ideals.

"Portraits and Scenes", the debut group exhibit organized by the recently formed Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines Inc, does well in living up to that ideal when talking about portraits and portraiture art.

Scheduled to take place from June 8 to June 20, 2012 at the Northwing, SM City Cebu, "Portraits and Scenes" collects nearly a hundred works from forty seven of Cebu's established and on-the-rise maestros.

Open to the public, the exhibit also features demonstrations and lectures pertaining to the creation and art in making portraits, slated to happen within the show's scheduled duration.

Given that the show highlights portraits and landscape compositions, the chiaroscuro technique in painting is given more breadth and dimension in "Portraits and Scenes", definitive in telling how much Cebuano artists have mastered the Italian-inspired technique, something which the Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines has done well.

Chaired by the internationally acclaimed Romulo Galicano, the Portrait Artists Society of the Philippines was formed as a venue where the craft, practice and aesthetics of traditional fine art portraiture is uplifted to higher ideals, with Galicano at its helm, aided by fellow artists Jun Impas, Boy Kiamko, Kimsoy Yap, Carly Florido, Dong Tallo, Adeste Deguilmo, Boy Briones, Pepe Villadolid, Mar Vidal, and more.

With plans of showcasing two exhibits in a year, the Cebu-founded national organization had previously helped raise funds geared to assist typhoon Sendong victims early this year, and has plans in organizing another exhibit this year, touching up on pencil and pen and ink sketches as the primary focus forte of the upcoming show.

For now, all of Cebu is invited to drop by "Portraits and Scenes", to witness the works of Cebu's masters. (FREEMAN)