Freak show
May 13, 2005 | 12:00am
It took time before this feature came out – a month of bungled emails, unexpected run-ins, packed schedules, more bungled emails, and missed deadlines. But time never runs out on creative genius, and if you continue with your interest in this article, you’ll realize why time is not in any position to do so.
If you persist with this feature, you’ll glimpse a bit of the energy of Homo Gestalt, a one-spirited, four-staffed group with an infinite amount of talent. You’ll wonder about their name, but we’ll fill you in on that one. You’ll want to take a second glance at the images they’ve produced: stills that capture that surreal and meta-fictional world awakened minds have the password to. You’ll question their identities, even their sanity. There’s a slight possibility that you wouldn’t give a damn, but we sincerely doubt that. Homo Gestalt’s work, their ideas and opinions, will get to you, in one way or another. And even if you don’t continue with your interest in this article, you’re bound to encounter them again, in another publication, another medium, another soul, that has been won over as much as we have been.
Homo Gestalt (HG to avoid tongue twists) brings together the personal statements of four artistic people – Erwin Romulo, Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo, Mads Adrias, and Juan Caguicla – who think alike and mesh remarkably well together. Formed a year ago, the name and the spirit of the group was inspired by a science-fiction novel by Theodore Sturgeon called More Than Human. Explains recognized group spokesperson Erwin Romulo, "The heroes of the book are freaks: an indigent subnormal named Lone, three runaway girls aged four to six, all of whom have spectacular mental powers, and a mongoloid baby. Apart, they’re a mess; together, they constitute one being, a gestalt entity of tremendous latent abilities."
HG made its debut on the pages of YStyle with a lyrical series of photographs for creative director Celine Lopez. They’ve also done editorials (some still to be published) for Manual, Metro Society, and Preview.
If you continue reading a bit more, you’ll realize that Homo Gestalt are composed of people who are not out to make a difference; they just happen to express their talent differently. They’re normal people with dream projects, articulate minds, and a just a little bit of freak in them.
Role in the group: Mouth. (Yvonne is the brains; Juan is the muscle; and Mads is the heart.)
Work experience.
Freelance writer/ director/ sound designer.
What do you love most about what you do?
Having a laugh with my friends.
Most creative thing you’ve ever done, or work that you’re most proud of?
So far, my film Camiling Story and the shoots we’ve done for YStyle.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
To HG? All of it.
Where would you be without your art?
Don’t know.
What kind of recognition are you hoping for?
The approval of my wife.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
With HG, not yet.
Where do you get your ideas?
Tricky, this one. My stock reply is Pasig.
Does collaboration really work?
No, but there are exceptions. This is one.
Most outrageous thing you’ve done for art’s sake?
My lawyers have told me not to respond to this question because it might be self-incriminating.
Life philosophy?
There isn’t necessarily always a tomorrow.
People whose work you admire?
Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo, Mike de Leon, Gabriel Barredo and Gregorio C. Brillantes.
How do you want to be remembered?
Hopefully, fondly and with a sigh.
Mads Adrias
Role in the group: Heart. Stylist and concept contributor.
Work experience.
Line producer for music videos, TVCs and AVPs, and co-owner/treasurer of Furball, Inc., a production house.
What do you love most about what you do?
With HG, the free flow of creative juices. And the male models.
Work that you’re most proud of?
The Indian pasta with curried tofu.
Where would you be without your art?
Hmm... In Bangkok? Surviving, in itself, is art.
What kind of recognition are you hoping for?
Best in conduct.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
Life, in general, is a compromise, either with others or with yourself. What is important is how you are able to compromise and yet retain integrity in your work.
Does collaboration really work?
No man or "wommon" is an island.
Life philosophy?
Life is short, live it to the fullest. Be kind to others. No amount of money can pay for your integrity and conviction. Thou shall not steal. "Who cares what you’re wearing, it’s what you wear from ear to ear and not from head to toe." And (say) no to crab mentality!
People whose work you admire?
Ordinary people with word of honor, integrity, humility and compassion, from our neighborhood dressmaker to the panadero to the person who collects our garbage every Mondays and Thursdays to my mom’s manicurista and, of course, my parents (Rita and Tony Adrias) for teaching me not to obsess over material things and not to care what others will think of me if I don’t own any of those.
How do you want to be remembered?
A good person with no "buts."
Role in the group: Mostly photography I suppose (despite the nagging thought that that’s over-generalizing)
Work experience.
Nine years of professional photography.
What do you love most about what you do?
The fact that no two projects, whether commercial or otherwise, are exactly the same. It keeps you fresh and on your toes, but that’s about as much spontaneity as I’ll allow.
Work that you’re most proud of?
To describe a particular body of work, none comes to mind, but as far as creativity goes, I think giving collaboration a chance and sticking with it is something "out of the box" for me.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
Okay, let’s put the term "art" aside. For all intents and purposes, I’m a photographer and with regards to the time I dedicate to photography. Well, I live it and breathe it so you can pretty much say I spend the bulk of my time doing it or thinking about it when I’m not doing it.
Where would you be without photography?
I’d probably be a struggling musician playing some ratty club, hungry for a record deal that won’t come, or a starving painter who’s lucky to sell a piece of work (to relatives) every five years or so.
Where do you get your ideas?
They just come I suppose...
Does collaboration really work?
Apparently. But I think that’s on a case-to-case basis. All of us just happen to have history together and get along famously. It just so happened that we figured out we can actually accomplish something worthwhile together that would be much more difficult to do alone.
Dream project?
Assuming you mean a photography job, I’m sure given more time to think about it, I can come up with something more grandiose, but off the top of my head, I’d say the Pirelli calendar would be a good start, or maybe shoot for one of those huge European couture houses for a campaign or something. Maybe even a human interest (condition) piece for the National Geographic in Tibet or something. I don’t know really.
Life philosophy?
Keep it simple, and karma exists.
People whose work you admire?
There are a lot, from dead people to people who just got into whatever they were doing.
How do you want to be remembered?
The way I am, no more, no less.
Role in the group: Creative director/production designer .
Work experience.
Designer.
What do you love most about what you do?
Coming up with fun ideas and seeing it materialize.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
100 percent.
Where would you be without your art?
In a lab inventing drugs.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
Several times, but never again.
Where do you get your ideas?
History, literature.
Does collaboration really work?
Yes.
Most outrageous thing you’ve done for art’s sake?
Trespassed on private property and ran away from the guards for a shoot.
Dream project?
Print ads, billboards, and TV commercials.
Life philosophy?
No boundaries.
People whose work you admire?
Gabby Barredo, David Cronenberg, Rene Magritte, HP Lovecraft
How do you want to be remembered?
(As) a loving wife and mother.
If you persist with this feature, you’ll glimpse a bit of the energy of Homo Gestalt, a one-spirited, four-staffed group with an infinite amount of talent. You’ll wonder about their name, but we’ll fill you in on that one. You’ll want to take a second glance at the images they’ve produced: stills that capture that surreal and meta-fictional world awakened minds have the password to. You’ll question their identities, even their sanity. There’s a slight possibility that you wouldn’t give a damn, but we sincerely doubt that. Homo Gestalt’s work, their ideas and opinions, will get to you, in one way or another. And even if you don’t continue with your interest in this article, you’re bound to encounter them again, in another publication, another medium, another soul, that has been won over as much as we have been.
Homo Gestalt (HG to avoid tongue twists) brings together the personal statements of four artistic people – Erwin Romulo, Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo, Mads Adrias, and Juan Caguicla – who think alike and mesh remarkably well together. Formed a year ago, the name and the spirit of the group was inspired by a science-fiction novel by Theodore Sturgeon called More Than Human. Explains recognized group spokesperson Erwin Romulo, "The heroes of the book are freaks: an indigent subnormal named Lone, three runaway girls aged four to six, all of whom have spectacular mental powers, and a mongoloid baby. Apart, they’re a mess; together, they constitute one being, a gestalt entity of tremendous latent abilities."
HG made its debut on the pages of YStyle with a lyrical series of photographs for creative director Celine Lopez. They’ve also done editorials (some still to be published) for Manual, Metro Society, and Preview.
If you continue reading a bit more, you’ll realize that Homo Gestalt are composed of people who are not out to make a difference; they just happen to express their talent differently. They’re normal people with dream projects, articulate minds, and a just a little bit of freak in them.
Work experience.
Freelance writer/ director/ sound designer.
What do you love most about what you do?
Having a laugh with my friends.
Most creative thing you’ve ever done, or work that you’re most proud of?
So far, my film Camiling Story and the shoots we’ve done for YStyle.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
To HG? All of it.
Where would you be without your art?
Don’t know.
What kind of recognition are you hoping for?
The approval of my wife.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
With HG, not yet.
Where do you get your ideas?
Tricky, this one. My stock reply is Pasig.
Does collaboration really work?
No, but there are exceptions. This is one.
Most outrageous thing you’ve done for art’s sake?
My lawyers have told me not to respond to this question because it might be self-incriminating.
Life philosophy?
There isn’t necessarily always a tomorrow.
People whose work you admire?
Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo, Mike de Leon, Gabriel Barredo and Gregorio C. Brillantes.
How do you want to be remembered?
Hopefully, fondly and with a sigh.
Mads Adrias
Role in the group: Heart. Stylist and concept contributor.
Work experience.
Line producer for music videos, TVCs and AVPs, and co-owner/treasurer of Furball, Inc., a production house.
What do you love most about what you do?
With HG, the free flow of creative juices. And the male models.
Work that you’re most proud of?
The Indian pasta with curried tofu.
Where would you be without your art?
Hmm... In Bangkok? Surviving, in itself, is art.
What kind of recognition are you hoping for?
Best in conduct.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
Life, in general, is a compromise, either with others or with yourself. What is important is how you are able to compromise and yet retain integrity in your work.
Does collaboration really work?
No man or "wommon" is an island.
Life philosophy?
Life is short, live it to the fullest. Be kind to others. No amount of money can pay for your integrity and conviction. Thou shall not steal. "Who cares what you’re wearing, it’s what you wear from ear to ear and not from head to toe." And (say) no to crab mentality!
People whose work you admire?
Ordinary people with word of honor, integrity, humility and compassion, from our neighborhood dressmaker to the panadero to the person who collects our garbage every Mondays and Thursdays to my mom’s manicurista and, of course, my parents (Rita and Tony Adrias) for teaching me not to obsess over material things and not to care what others will think of me if I don’t own any of those.
How do you want to be remembered?
A good person with no "buts."
Work experience.
Nine years of professional photography.
What do you love most about what you do?
The fact that no two projects, whether commercial or otherwise, are exactly the same. It keeps you fresh and on your toes, but that’s about as much spontaneity as I’ll allow.
Work that you’re most proud of?
To describe a particular body of work, none comes to mind, but as far as creativity goes, I think giving collaboration a chance and sticking with it is something "out of the box" for me.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
Okay, let’s put the term "art" aside. For all intents and purposes, I’m a photographer and with regards to the time I dedicate to photography. Well, I live it and breathe it so you can pretty much say I spend the bulk of my time doing it or thinking about it when I’m not doing it.
Where would you be without photography?
I’d probably be a struggling musician playing some ratty club, hungry for a record deal that won’t come, or a starving painter who’s lucky to sell a piece of work (to relatives) every five years or so.
Where do you get your ideas?
They just come I suppose...
Does collaboration really work?
Apparently. But I think that’s on a case-to-case basis. All of us just happen to have history together and get along famously. It just so happened that we figured out we can actually accomplish something worthwhile together that would be much more difficult to do alone.
Dream project?
Assuming you mean a photography job, I’m sure given more time to think about it, I can come up with something more grandiose, but off the top of my head, I’d say the Pirelli calendar would be a good start, or maybe shoot for one of those huge European couture houses for a campaign or something. Maybe even a human interest (condition) piece for the National Geographic in Tibet or something. I don’t know really.
Life philosophy?
Keep it simple, and karma exists.
People whose work you admire?
There are a lot, from dead people to people who just got into whatever they were doing.
How do you want to be remembered?
The way I am, no more, no less.
Work experience.
Designer.
What do you love most about what you do?
Coming up with fun ideas and seeing it materialize.
How much time do you dedicate to your art?
100 percent.
Where would you be without your art?
In a lab inventing drugs.
Have you ever compromised on your creativity?
Several times, but never again.
Where do you get your ideas?
History, literature.
Does collaboration really work?
Yes.
Most outrageous thing you’ve done for art’s sake?
Trespassed on private property and ran away from the guards for a shoot.
Dream project?
Print ads, billboards, and TV commercials.
Life philosophy?
No boundaries.
People whose work you admire?
Gabby Barredo, David Cronenberg, Rene Magritte, HP Lovecraft
How do you want to be remembered?
(As) a loving wife and mother.
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