"This way to Paradise"

CEBU, Philippines — The wisest of philosophers – from Aristotle to Calvin and Hobbes – have long shared their views on finding meaning in life.

Postulating that the aim in all human activity is to sate the pursuit of happiness, the sages affirm that happiness is life’s primary goal – that it is, one way or another, life’s ultimate end-all and by-all.

Though the wisdom of the sages’ views isn’t all that difficult to grasp, it’s the definition of happiness that eludes many – a matter which a recent art exhibit hinged upon itself to resolve.

Titled “Kaugmaon” and presented by Cebu Artists Inc. and Ayala Center Cebu, the exhibit featured works that were made by members of the Southwest Art Club (SWAC), a creative arts organization that’s composed of artists who hail from municipalities in Cebu province’s southwest.

Mainly composed of en plein air-rendered landscapes and beachscapes, the exhibit lent a philosophic tone to scenic landscapes and views – framing such sights as more than static interpretations but as avenues for self-introspection and discovery.

Like road signs saying “this is the way to paradise,” the featured works steered clear from the ambiguity that’s inherent in abstract expressionist themes; a leaning which cuts against the grain of ongoing trends in the overall visual arts sphere.

In opting for a what-you-see-is-what-you-get theme, SWAC’s most recent exhibit parted the veil to life’s misleading nonsense – metaphorically reminding viewers that the insular kingdom of happiness is not found in diffused interpretations; that the way to paradise is paved by the promise of the coming day.