Jojo Guingona and Karen Concepcion’s passion for the arts
Jojo Guingona’s love for the camera started at the tender age of nine years old when his mother, Marilou Tuason, brought home a Nikon F2 camera and figured that it wasn’t to her liking. Ever since then, he was hooked and became a camera bug.
Professionally known for his catalogs, magazines and portraits, Jojo still recalls the days of film when Polaroids and transparencies were the norm. Bringing his camera wherever he goes, Jojo takes photos of anything and everything that catches his attention.
“I combine/composite several images to achieve a desired result. In this era of ubiquitous phone cameras, I try to come up with something unique and different,” Jojo shared.
In an effort to come up with a fresh aesthetic, he said, “I have been exploring more avenues of creative expression. These images are a result of that endeavor. I shoot all around the world. Each is composed of several images shot in that location. Most aren’t literal representations, but they aim to capture the energy and soul of the place.”
The current photo exhibit at 8 Rooms in Magallanes Village (which runs until June 10) is a testament to Jojo’s keen eye for photography.
‘La Mia Mente e in Europa’
Karen Fabie Concepcion’s passion for art was evident with her first one-woman exhibit in 1997 at the Ayala Museum and ever since then, she has had dozens more solo and group shows.
The most recent was in Milan, Italy, when she joined “La Mia Mente e in Europa,” a celebration of art, culture and collaboration on an international stage.
The exhibit was curated by Prof. Ruben DF Defeo and hosted by the Philippine Consulate in Milan with artists using various mediums and native materials: Ramon A. Acevedo, Nina Ricci Alagao-Flores, Hoche Briones, Reb Belleza, Denes Dasco, Joy Dasco, Jes Evangelista, Karen Concepcion, Reymar Gacutan, Carmela Geisert, Jay Lozada, Nesty Ortiz, Anton Quisumbing, Byron Valenzuela, Myk Velasco, Jefferson Villacruz, and Chelony Mercado.
The show is sponsored by SMEG, a company known to work closely with artists, designers and architects in appliance products that stand out artistically.
“We are honored to host this exhibition in cooperation with the White Room Gallery and SEAMCO Innotech. The exhibit celebrates the rich tapestry of Philippine art and culture,” said Consul General Elmer Cato at the opening ceremony attended by the Filipino community and guests.
