Sio Montera’s “A State of Introspection”

Cebuano abstract expressionist Sio Montera marked the 20th year of his career as an artist with an exhibit entitled “A State of Introspection” last August 10 at the Qube Gallery in Crossroads. It was also his 20th solo exhibit and the artist-professor has indeed come a long way. He is currently based in Taiwan to finish his Doctorate in Creative Industries Design in the National Cheng Kung University, with support from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.

Adjani Arumpac describes his current collection of artworks: “Montera is at a turning point. The titles of his works (“How High You Go/The Struggle to Stay Low,” “I Am Because I Was,” “Youth Knows No Pain,” “Think of Yourself Less,” et al) are a peek into the turbulence of an ongoing reorientation brought by dislocation and alienation. A few bright color fields break the largely monochromatic series, disturbing a level of warmth to an otherwise overall somber wintry tone that sets the mood of the exhibition. Where history in old spaces steeped in culture is found at the bottom of peeling layers of paint, one finds here – through layers of being art educator, advocate, gallery director – an informed artist at the core. This palimpsestuousness is a vantage point that has been consistently utilized to impart to students and colleagues that the struggle for cultural, artistic, creative identity is beyond seeking muse and market, but instead in the mapping of meaning-making for the misgoverned, marginalized, and emergent. In ‘A State of Introspection,’ what is unseen is the other as art professional inside a pall, patiently scratching and seeing through the strata to arrive at the surface.”

Qube Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. The contact number is +6332 261 0696. More information is at www.qubegallery.ph or email [email protected].