In a league of her own

Thank God for designers brave enough to mount solo shows on their own in this day of so many
group shows with major sponsors, where one doesn’t really get to shine with a few outfits shown onstage.

It was easy to appreciate Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo’s recent showing at Gallerie Astra because it was up close and personal, although the space could’ve been bigger.

"We were expecting 150 guests out of the 300 invites we sent, but the number that registered was 450," said Yvonne. (And you know not everybody registers because I didn’t.)

It was packed and some say, a bit warm, but I didn’t mind. It was so worth it to have been there and on time to witness one of the best shows I have seen in a very long time.

Thirty-year-old Yvonne, a multi-media artist, combined art and fashion through her wearable art made of beaded piña pieces, lined with cotton silk and mounted on light boxes resembling X-rays on the wall.

A huge installation of Yvonne’s organic, beaded, pendulous bags, sculptures and mirrors dominated the center of the room.

At the right moment came the fog and the original instrumental music by Moon Fear Moon, Malek Lopez, and Mark Laccay. The sound was womblike, ambient, and eerie.

Titled "Infernal Desire Machines" after a book by fantasy writer Angela Carter, Yvonne says her latest work is about vanity. Not particularly a vain girl herself, the artist says she just "dwelt on the idea" and came up with a sculpture that resembles a vanity table.

Yvonne used only four models to showcase her wearable art. But she chose them well for they are all built like hangers and easy to fit. They also have different looks: Raya Mananquil is tanned and Oriental; Jo Ann Bitagcol is an Oriental-mestiza; Grace Tagle is very mestiza with fine features; and Ria Bolivar is bronzed with chiseled features.

You were immediately stunned by their white contact lenses with just a tiny hole to accommodate the pupil. Yvonne and Erwin through the Internet sourced these and each lens cost them P4,000.

I would say half of the impact came from the lenses because it made the models look part-human, part-lizard, combined with unique hairstyles designed by Nerson Bajado with Bergmann Hair Systems.

The makeup was spare and clean with the girls having been treated to a Shiseido facial before the show.

The models helped each other change outfits in front of the audience who were quite audible in their reaction. You could almost imagine the models were mute, alien-like creatures. I told Yvonne they reminded me of the forest nymphs in Nijinsky’s ballet, L’apres Midi d’un Faune.

Their slow movements were choreographed by director Melvin Mojica in collaboration with the artist who carefully discussed how to present and hang the clothes. "The concept was medyo dark, parang Nightmare Before Christmas," Melvin said. On the artist, Melvin says, "Sobrang sarap ka-work. Hindi siya diva, super nice."

Perhaps it is this humble, endearing quality of Yvonne that has attracted so many friends and artists to collaborate with her, like the collective known as HG that includes Yvonne and Erwin Romulo, photographer Juan Caguicla, stylist Mads Adrias, artist Rom Villaseran, and hairstylist Nerson Bajado, under the guidance of artist Gabby Barredo who was the curator of her show and whom Yvonne considers her "mentor for everything."

Yvonne and her group conceptualized the project early this year when the curator of an art gallery proposed a show. Yvonne started her sculptures in March, working with a welder. A carpenter helped her mount canvases and sewers worked on her clothing and accessories.

In the middle of all this activity, last month, Yvonne also won the grand prize in the accessories division of the annual Philippine Fashion Design Competition. It is not her first time, having previously won in its apparel division in 2001.

As part of her prize, Yvonne will fly to Paris to compete in the Concours International des Jeunes Creatéurs de Mode (International Competition of Young Fashion Designers) in Paris, France, on Dec. 15.

It is certainly an exciting time for Yvonne who has shown us she is in a league of her own, constantly evolving while taking awards along the way.