Actor-politician Yul Servo features temples for Chinese New Year solo exhibit
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo is back for a solo exhibit in Manila Hotel, featuring Chinese temples on wall-mounted metal art in time for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
The actor-turned-politician returns for his sixth solo exhibit titled “Directions VI” currently on view at the Art Gallery on the ground level of the historic hotel. It is the second time he mounts an exhibit in the hotel.
The artist has come up with five wall-mounted metal art and two free-standing sculptures in the shape of an egg made to look like nests.
“Dito sa ‘Directions VI’ naisip ko po ito na mga mapa ng Chinese temples at i-celebrate ang Chinese New Year. Nais ko lang ilagay sa aking obra itong mapa ng Chinese temples sa Binondo, San Nicolas,” Servo said during his opening speech at the Manila Hotel last January 15.
Servo told Philstar.com in an exclusive interview after the exhibit launch that he has always been drawn to maps.
His love for the arts dates back to when he was a young child. His father and siblings drew and painted, while he quipped that he was into “abstract painting.” His medium, though, were mostly scrap materials.
“Ang sa akin noon, ang hilig ko, kunyari, may scrap, ‘pag pinagsama-sama mo, nagiging art e. Pero hindi ko alam na art pala ‘yun,” he recalled.
He revealed that at one point, he had scrap materials stored in his studio for six years, and when he was invited for a show, he was finally able to turn them into art.
“'Yung mga scrap o basura na tingin ng iba, pwede mong magawang iba e. Pwede mong mabuhay na pwedeng magagamit, pwedeng art. Para hindi rin sayang,” he continued.
For his ongoing exhibit though, he did not use his stored scrap because it was difficult to buy them these days. Instead, he used bronze- and gold-plated alloys. He also used bolts, nuts, screws and hinges on his latest artworks.
He veered away from his previous linear art and turned to cubism, with his “Directions VI” pieces made with cubes.
“Temple Splendor” is the exhibit’s centerpiece that reimagines Chinese temples with golden nuts arranged on a grid-like map of Manila.
Like his previous shows, Servo said that proceeds from his latest “Directions” exhibit will go to the funding for health services, not limited to Manila residents.
“Kung anuman ang kikitain nito, mapunpunta sa wheelchair, hearing aid, tungkod (walking cane), walker, nebulizer, pang-BP (blood pressure) para sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong pagdating sa ganong kagamitan,” the artist-politician said.
RELATED: Yul Servo: Pinoys deserve a safe, healthy environment
