Sigwada Gallery mounted its latest exhibit entitled "Blackened White" which opened last June 19,2010. The exhibit features the works of Marius Black and Tad Pagaduan in which as the title suggests they commit the act of staining the stainless and polluting the pure. In a more philosophical or theological dimension, they deliberately pour iniquity onto heaven. The idea could be viewed the other way around. "Blackened White" could be translated to "Whitened black", an image of cleansing. By mere word play, the original idea gives birth to its opposite: polishing the stained, purifying the polluted and salvaging sin from hell. The truth is that the show, like life, is caught in the center of virtue and sin wherein neither one stands eternally nor absolutely dominant.
Tad Pagaduan tackles the "Blackened White” concept. His fresh innovative vision, heretofore unseen, is replete with dialectics: black versus white, realism versus abstractionism, figurativism versus cubism, impasto versus sketching, expressionism versus impressionism, God versus Devil and virtue versus sin. But this does not at all mean a confused and directionless explosion of images. On the contrary, what one sees is a subdued, muted restrained and zen-like vision that overlies the paradoxes beneath. The titles convey such interesting juxtapositions: "Vulture Chirp;" "Ari nga Taraken" (King Adopted); "Dagsen ti Nailangitan"(Burden of Heaven); "Dispensarem kuna ti Diablo" (Excuse me Says the Devil).
Marius Black on the other hand grapples with the Whitened Black idea. From a background of black, Marius skillfully creates light, color and movement. Amidst darkness, he paints the dawn of light (Malayo pa ba ang Mamaya?), the leap of faith (Masakit Magdasal ang Makasalanan), the struggle against angst (Gutom at Uhaw), and waiting for salvation (Pangtawid Usok). His artworks convey the message of hope beyond despair, of liberation from suffering.
The two artists thus complement by presenting clashing ideas and images that challenge and jar static assumptions. For it is only by daily and constantly reminding us of the ephemeral and vague state of life do we move towards true virtue and genuine personhood. For do not the scientists say that in black and white reside all the colors of the rainbow?
"Blackened White" is on view until June 29, 2010 at Sigwada Gallery-1921 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz. Manila. For inquiries please call (02)7435873 or e-mail at sigwadagallery@yahoo.com.
