Alternate Universe
“Paintings like ‘Time Travellers’ convince me that Rodney Yap is one of the Philippine’s most influential artists and a leader of post-modern art in both Filipino and Asian art history”. Gord Snyder/Curator
The paintings and the theme of this exhibition by Yap and fellow artist Nil Capinianes complement each other. Using the theme ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, the works explore a fascinating parallel dimension or alternate reality of images on both canvas and paper.
Yap’s paintings are composed of dimension, abstraction and recognizable objects in a swirling ‘alternate universe’ which is done in a mysterious, often expressionistic and surreal metaphysical style. Capinianes works incorporate the themes and characters of Philippine mythology. His ‘alternate universe’ is about ‘retelling’ a story in pictures that connect the myths of the past to today.
Rodney Yap comes from the Manobo tribe and was raised in Davao City holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Major in Painting from the Ford Academy of Arts in Davao City. Capinianes was born in Iloilo City and currently commutes between Davao and Iloilo. He has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and is a member of the Iloilo Visual Artists Collective and founding member of Pintanao Arts Group in Davao (paint+vision) (paint NoW).
Capinianes has been painting since 2010 but took a 6 year hiatus before returning to painting last year. In 2012, he participated with fellow artists Cezar Arro, Lester Amacio and Allain Hablo in the GSIS Museo in the exhibit ‘Pangayaw’ – 4 Ilonggo Artists.
In addition to this exhibition, Kulay Diwa Gallery of Contemporary Art is exhibiting the works o Davao artists who are associated with Yap and Capinianes. Three exhibits will be opening in the Online Viewing Gallery on November 10 and running through the duration of the exhibition.
One Online Viewing Room features the works of Reneboy Chona who is a friend and contemporary of Rodney Yap.
A second Online Viewing Room exhibition features the work of three of Yap’s former students – Lawrence Tulio, Renzo Daquigan and Arvin C. Cantalejo, Jr.
The third Online Viewing Room Exhibit features Maru and Isang Ondon, two Davao woman artists both of whom are members of the Pintanao Arts Group in Davao (paint+vision) (paint NoW) of which Capinianes is a founding member.
Gordo Snyder – Guest Curator
“I always want to depict objects based on their sensory characteristics to the state where the faculty of human understanding transcends images beyond simple and ordinary.” Rodney Yap
Rodney P. Yap is an internationally recognized visual artist whos lives and works in Davao. He leads the Rodney Yap School of Arts and Thoughts and the Art de Triomphe Mentoring Program in Davao City.
His work is distinctive in that as a post-modernist, he synthesizes works – blending abstraction and symbolism, threading layers of color and even fusing street and urban art. Yap is a member of the International Museum of Fantastic art in Vienna and in 2013 Dusan Magazine in Malaysia included him the Best in Asia Region Edition.
Yap has won many awards including six consecutive time winner of the Philippine Arts Awards Competition (2007-2018) and has participated in numerous group and one-person exhibitions including solo shows in Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, Rotterdam, Warsaw and Wroclaw, Poland.
Yap’s ‘Days in the Sun’ painting was listed in the ArtRaker London in 2014 and in 2015, he represented the Philippines as the featured artist in the Art Plus Expo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That same year, Yap was part of the Philippine nine artist delegation to the X Florence Bienalle in Italy. He is listed in the Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton Collection Book of Contemporary Artists in the Philippines in Italy.
Yap was the featured artist in Manilart 2017 (Espacio Gallery) and head artist/curator in Singapore for the Singapore Art Week Philippine Embassy Small Works Group Exhibit in 2018. The Metropolitan Museum, Manila, the National Commission on Culture and Arts and SM Premier Lenang, Davao recognized Yap during the ESSENTIAL EDADES Tribute Exhibit for carrying its legacy and excelling in the arts in 2018.
Yap was also the Philippine Art Award Mindanao winner and the Curator of the ART FOR EVERYONE in 2018 and again in 2019. Yap had a solo exhibition at Secret Fresh Gallery in Manila in 2019.
Yap is currently preparing for exhibitions in Manila, USA, and Europe. He has extensive experience curating exhibitions and developing concepts for public and urban art here in the Philippines and abroad.
Yap’s works are in the collections of art institutions, museums and private collections around the world.
‘I always wanted to tell stories in the context of time and space; in the days of the sun and on the night of the chilling moon. Art that inspires to create a better place, instills love and respect towards creation’.
Rodney Yap ‘Man With An Axe Cutting Time Slowly’ 4×5 oil pastels on paper 2019
Rodney Yap ‘Praying Child at Night’ 4×5 mixed media 2019
Rodney Yap ‘Reclining Red Nude’ oil pastels on paper 2019
Rodney Yap ‘Resting Dragon’ 4×5 acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap ‘The Picnics’ 4×5 mied media 2019
Rodney Yap ‘Under the Sea 4×5 oil pastels on paper 2019
Rodney Yap ‘Woman in Red with Umbrella 4×5 oil pastels on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Courting Cranes 4×5 oil:pastels on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Barrio 20×16 acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Boy 20×16 acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Boy Forest 20×16 acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Curly Jasmine 20×16 acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Forest 15×10 acrylic and charcoal on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Gray Flowers 15×10 charcoal and acrylic on paper 2019
Rodney Yap In Between Reality and Magic
Rodney Yap in progress man with wings
Rodney Yap Knight Guided by Muses 5×4 mixed media
Rodney Yap Landscape with Flowers 15×10 2019
Rodney Yap Narratives 68×80 mixed media and collage on paper 2019
Rodney Yap Stranger 24×48 oil on canvas 2019
Rodney Yap The Second Coming of Man 18×24
Rodney Yap titled A Sea a Man Has, 19×24, acrylic on canvas, 2019
Rodney Yap titled Day and Night
Rodney Yap, Anxiety 18×24 acrylic on canvas 2019
Rodney Yap, Birds and Elephants Busy 15×10 acrylic and charcoal on paper 2019
Rodney Yap, Boy Being Sermoned by the Cranes, 4×5, Mixed Media, 2019
Rodney Yap, Celestine 18×24 acrylic on canvas, 2019
Rodney Yap, Circus Beyond, 18×24, 2019.
Rodney Yap, Crossing Rivers, 4×5, Oil Pastels on Paper 2019
Rodney Yap, Drinking Ghosts, 4×5, Oil Pastels on Paper 2019
Rodney Yap, Foliage, 4×5, Oil Pastels on Paper, 2019
Rodney Yap, Isolated Red Ant, 4×5, Oil Pastels on Paper 2019
Rodney Yap, Lizard Lays Eggs, 4×5, Mixed Media, 2019
Rodney Yap, Man Seeing the Future 1*’x24, acrylic on canvas, 2019
Rodney Yap, Passages, 18×24, acrylic on canvas, 2019
Rodney Yap, Time Travellers 18×24, acrylic on canvas, 2019
Capinianes was born in Iloilo City and currently commutes between Davao and Iloilo. He has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and is a member of the Iloilo Visual Artists Collective and founding member of Pintanao Arts Group in Davao (paint+vision) (paint NoW). Capinianes has been painting since 2010 but took a 6-year hiatus before returning to painting last year. In 2012, he participated with fellow artists Cezar Arro, Lester Amacio, and Allain Hablo in the GSIS Museo in the exhibit ‘Pangayaw’ – 4 Ilonggo Artists.
Capinianes works incorporate the theme and characters of Philippine mythology. His ‘alternate universe’ is about ‘retelling’ a story in pictures that connect the myths of the past to today.
An example is the ‘bakunawa”’ or mythical serpent-like dragon believed to be the cause of eclipses, earthquakes, rains, and wind. It is said that during a lunar eclipse in the ancient Philippines, the people believed that a monstrous dragon, known as Bakunawa, was attempting to swallow the moon. It is believed this was done out of jealousy.
Capinianes also has chosen to depict in painting the term ‘taglugar’ (guardian of nature) as it relates to the stories of the elders telling the people to respect nature. He wants to present and connect these myths by painting an ‘alternate universe’ – by telling a visual story of the past beliefs and myths, extracting the metaphorical meanings and connecting it to present times.
Nil Capinianes titled Eclipse Blossoms 12×16 oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled Hunting Ground 12×16 oil. on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled Spirit of Sarandihun Guardian of the River 12×16 oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled Taglugar 18×24 oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled Bakunawa- The Moon-eater series 1 18×24, oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled bakunawa- the moon-eater series.2 1824, oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled homebound 2. 18×24 oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes titled Portal to the enchanted cave Tarangban. 12×16 oil on canvas board, 2019
Nil Capinianes Pamalugu Ritual Bath Cleansing of Spirit in the Black River, 2019 Acrylic on Canvas 24 x 18 in
Nil Capinianes Taglugar series, 2019 Oil Etching on Board 14 x 12 in
Nil Capinianes Taglugar Series 2, 2019 Oil Etching on Board 14 x 12 in
Nil Capinianes Homebound Series , 2019 Mixed Media 14 x 12 in
Nil Cpinianes, Sarimanok, Mixed Media, 18×12, 2019(1)
