Heritage & Algorithm at Vetted: Like it!
No, it’s not that I forgot to crop the “likes” (shown on Instagram by clicking on the heart below the photo) from Bay Area Filipino-American artist Chris Patio’s paintings for the layout of this column.
Chris, who won second place at the Shell National Arts Competition in 1995, purposely and with much thought, put that surprise touch, an Instagram frame, on the 12 classical paintings in his first solo show in Manila at Vetted.
Though the old imagery in his paintings are hauntingly beautiful, the viewer will see a decidedly modern touch — the hearts of an Instagram post — on the bottom frame.
“The IG frame represents a highly commoditized modern element that viewers can easily identify. I thought it was a good juxtaposition to tell a story that bridges the past and the present,” Chris tells me.
“To me, heritage isn’t just about what’s old but also about what you value,” he explains. “It’s about recognizing the things that define who you are in the present. The Instagram frame in my work symbolizes this balance to illustrate how our identities are shaped by both history and technology and how these forces intersect.”
If you take another close look at the paintings, the top is framed by an arch. There is a story behind that, too.
“In my effort to honor our heritage, I sought a unifying element to emphasize its significance. I thought arches could symbolize importance and transition, as they often appear in religious, architectural, and historical contexts,” Chris points out.
“The old imagery represents our past, and the IG frame, the present,” Chris sums it up. “The paintings are inspired by the things I love and value.”
Like!
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“I have known Chris for over 35 years,” says top interior designer Jonathan Matti, who founded the creative space in Makati called “Vetted.”
“I chanced upon him at the Shell Art Competition in 1995 and bought some of his works. We reconnected on Instagram, fell in love with his works all over again. We expressed his desire to have a show in Manila, so invited him to show at Vetted,” explains Jonathan.
The 12 oil-on-canvases on show at Vetted starting tomorrow encapsulate Chris’ spirit and persona, built around his memories from his first visit to the National Museum. There, the future artist, aged around nine, stood mesmerized by the sepia-toned paintings of folk scenes.
“I remember thinking, ‘How could someone create something so beautiful?’ From that moment, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Creating with simple materials, using my hands, and telling stories through art became a core part of who I am. Looking back, it’s incredible how such a small moment could shape my life.”
The Philippine diaspora, including his own emigration to the United States, would also leave an indelible mark on the works of Chris.
After being petitioned by his family, Chris moved to the United States, but returned for a time because he was homesick. He also missed his then girlfriend Jocelyn (now his wife and the mother of his two daughters). Though he eventually returned to the United States, where he now works as director of design for Salesforce, his paintings capture the pendulum that swings the range of feelings of someone who leaves his homeland for new shores.
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Following a stellar inaugural year, Vetted reintroduces Chris to the Philippine art scene, after the latter’s absence of nearly three decades, with “Heritage + Algorithm,” his first solo show in Manila. Chris migrated to the US after graduating from the Philippine Women’s University’s College of Fine Arts and Design.
Chris gained a following after his second-place finish at the Shell National Arts Competition in 1995. “I started receiving requests for commissions,” the artist recalls. “It was also around that time that I met some art patrons, including Jonathan Matti.”
After his defining moment at the National Museum when he was nine, Chris returned to the museum when he was in college and found himself as captivated as he was years before.
“Since then, visiting museums has felt like going to church—a way to center myself. After moving to the US, I made it a tradition to visit museums here in San Francisco during my birthday week.”
His works for the show at Vetted take the viewer back to that pivotal moment at the National Museum. Lifting from vintage photographs, his subjects are posed and dressed as was the norm of their time. They are painted in sepia tones, the brush strokes revealing Chris’ classical leanings.
“My interest in Classical Realism grew from a deep appreciation for traditional art techniques. I began my studies in illustration, learning the fundamentals of drawing and storytelling. However, it was at an atelier where I truly connected with Classical Realism. There, I learned timeless techniques passed down through generations of artists, which ignited my passion for this style. I also started collecting art books, often spending much of my paychecks on them. This combination of mastering the techniques and understanding their history has had a lasting influence on my work.”
As for the IG frame, Chris adds, “The user interface digital elements — the IG frame — are the types of artifacts I engage with in my high tech design job every day.”
Hence, the fusion of past and present in his works.
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(Heritage & Algorithm runs from Feb. 19 to March 7, at Unit 126, Milelong Bldg., Amorsolo St. corner V. Rufino, Makati City. For inquiries, call 0917-5262339.)
You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.
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