press release - Mondejar Gallery

PRESS RELEASE
06 November - 30 December 2008
“Diskarte”
Jerson Samson
Opening: Thursday, 06 November 2008 at 18h00
The artist will be present
Jerson Samson's new works entitled: DISKARTE
Diskarte is word describing the innate ability of every ordinary Filipino to adopt in any place or situation, as natural
survival instinct. Filipinos are skilled with their hands; crafty and hardworking laborers, and has a strong common
sense of doing things under varied circumstances in a given environment. In my latest show here in Zurich,
Switzerland entitled Diskarte; this distinct trait or character has been the main driving force to create and transform
ideas into 3 dimensional works of art.
REINVENTION WORKS OF JERSON SAMSON
You and Me, 2008
mix media sculpture
H: 96.5 cm / 38 in W: variable / Tallest: 108.5 cm / 43 in
Seven images of human figures all cut out on one-inch thick plywood. With the front colored entirely in gold highly
textured with written words, nice and pleasing statements can be read, and with an imposing big perfect and beautiful
smile to represent the side of people that is only visible to the human eye. The back is colored entirely in flat black
with an image of a hand holding sharp silver dagger, to represent what is not visible to our eye. "Truth behind those
smiles"
We humans are like this sometimes, this figures represent us because we sometimes give or show "unfaithful smiles"
to people.
95% of the world,2008
Mixed media work
182 x 242 cm / 72 x 95 in
The canvas is dominated by silver colored background. A huge image of a fly feasting shit or feces, with 2 small
canvases with backsides up pasted on the fore. The left side is a cutout image of shit or feces and pasted onto a
cardboard with a colorful and bright vertical stripes of white pink and mint green with the statement “95% of the world
is third-world” while on the right side is a picture of measuring stick pasted on top along side of reel image of angular
ruler with the words written “will work for shit.” The images of measuring items suggest the west and their precision.
95% of the world will work for shit; a reality of most third-world countries.
Searching for the meaning of life, 2008
mix media assemblage
H: W: variable
A work made of collected items or souvenirs such as kitchen utensils, shoes and underwear, designer items like bags
and other memorabilia; all placed randomly inside an open silver painted suitcase. All items are colored in gold.
The suitcase represents travel and search, while the gold colored items represent the things achieved in life. It’s akin
to a treasure chest of gold. They manifest a person’s achievements, wealth, and social status obtained from virtual
success in life. The earthly symbols of power and success, which people claim to leave behind once we die, leaves a
simple yet nagging question to viewers: What is the meaning of life?
Anatomy of peace, 2008
mix media sculpture
H: 262 cm / 103 in W: variable
A huge image of 3D dimensional gun or rifle, maybe a sophisticated M16 and AK47 rifle wrapped in silver tape with
only the top visible to identify. The tip of the gun is painted in luminous red to show an effect of heat and fire, evoking
that the gun has been detonated. The gun is wrapped because for the artist, peace is a gift, and wrapping suggests
the idea of gift-giving, and to achieve peace, one has to prepare for war, thus gun is suggesting.
Few months ago before I left the Philippine for Switzerland, horrifying news stories dominated the media industry.
Horrendous killings in villages of some towns in Mindanao, the Southern part of the Philippines, were incessantly
reported. Hapless people allegedly massacred, robbed of properties, and houses burned; scenes popularly seen in
war movies, yet a striking reality in my country. The perpetrators being the same Filipino people of Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) makes it sad thing to note that people of the same race are killing one another. Some
survivors from the massive killings clamor before the Philippine government to arm them with guns to defend their
lives in the event of future attacks while the military troopers could not effectively provide the necessary protection
over the populace when help is mostly needed. So pathetic that I would share their cause had I been part of the
situation they’re in by way of asking the government a gift of peace in form of gun.
Karaoke from Hell, 2008
mix media
86.5 x 200.5 cm / 34 x 79 in
Made of oil sprayed with gold paint. Highly textured painted words of written lyrics from a song by pioneers of Rock n'
Roll in the Philippines in the sixties. The Juan de la Cruz band, the song entitled, "Balong Malalim" with the
followings lyrics . . . . "Gusto niyang mag swimming sa balong malalim di naman pupwede sapagkat madilim. Ngunit
kung may ilaw akala moy langaw, Gusto niyang kumain, kumain ng kumain, di naman nabubusog sa kanyang kinain.
Di na niya inisip yon ay hindi sa amin. Sige pa ng sige kahit na dumudumi ang isipan ng tao dito sa mundong ito.
Wala na bang remedyo o walang remedyo ang ating mga ulo? (The song entitled: Deep Well, with the following
lyrics . . . . he wants to swim in the deep well, but he can’t do so since its dark in there. When there’s light however,
he seems like a fly that wants to eat endlessly yet never gets any fullness despite all he has eaten. He never
considered that we didn’t own them. He keeps on doing despite developing dirty minds of people in this world. Could
there be no more resolve or any other means to straighten our minds? This work pays tribute to two Rock n' Rock
spirits, the Karaoke from Hell here in Zurich, Switzerland and Juan de la Cruz, "Balong Malalim".
Ako at aking Tsinelas (Me and my flip flops), 2008
mix media
91 x 121 cm / 36 x 48 in
Painted in silver and gold, this work is a self-portrait of the artist, an Asian, a Filipino from a third-world country here in
the west, walking in the land of silver and gold.
My homesickness,2008
mix media
15 x 15 cm / 6 x 6 in
Is a diptych of 2, 6 x 6 inches canvas, on the left canvas is a statement saying, "Home sick home" spray painted in
gold, the right side where the back of the canvas was used is a cardboard cutout with images of small gold, silver and
white hearts pasted, which is my current state right now in Zurich, having been away from home for two long months
giving me a "home sick" syndrome.
DO-IT-YOURSELF, 2008
mix media
45 x 60 cm / 18 x 24 in/each
These images were taken from Ikea box carton. A step by step assembly of procedure.
Do-It-Yourself refers to the product in the west, where the idea or objective is to follow the rules and procedures,
where the buyer is solely responsible of his/her purchased item. It is very western idea, in the sense that everything is
precisely measured with strict adherence to rules and procedures. This, for me as Filipino artist is my impression of
the western custom, the do it yourself. A complete opposite of the valuable character of the Filipinos which is the
"Bayanihan Culture" where everyone joins force to make a task faster, easier, and lighter.
Celebrity Skin Sickness, 2008
mix media
6 pcs. of 15 x 15 cm / 6 x 6 in / each of two
The Celebrity Skin Sickness
6 pieces of 6 x 6 inches of mix media works on canvas. Mostly made out of acrylic paint and paper collage. The work
features fashion images from top models and celebrities. This work is a commentary on contemporary societies
'Celebrity Culture' wherein everyone patterns their looks based on the current fashion banking on the feeling that the
good looks portrayed by celebrities wearing the trendy fashion would justify the same effect to ordinary fashion
enthusiasts. A type of sickness I call, 'The celebrity skin sickness'.
ALSO REINVENTION WORKS OF JERSON SAMSON. FOUND OBJECTS THAT ARE KNOWN DECORATIVE
ARTS THAT CAN BE BOUGHT IN THE MASS PRODUCED DECORATIVE ART SHOPS IN MANILA WHILE HE
INCORPORATE HIS MESSAGE ONTO IT.
The Ikea Experience, 2008
mix media
80 x 156 cm / 31 x 61 in
This is a mixed media work, images of "Jeepneys" the common transportation in the Philippines especially in
congested streets in Manila that in some ways became a symbol of Filipino ingenuity, a cultural emblem. An image of
Ikea truck or its logo symbolizing the step by step rules or do it yourself culture, or even maybe the precision of the
west. On the surface of both images is a statement saying, "Bahala na si God" (leave it all to God); a common
expression in the Philippines being a catholic nation. When things go rough and situation go beyond normal control,
that’s the time when Bahala na si God is uttered with fervent hope of turning the situation to a favorable one. A
complete opposite what the Ikea logo represents wherein the image is about precision and the do it yourself culture of
the west.
Interior Friendly ,2008
mix media
120 x 150 cm / 47 x 59 in
A work comprising 3 decorative paintings, sold in the streets in Manila, mostly in sepia colors. The paintings are
images of the old country side of the Philippines. A genre of painting by Filipino National artist, Fernando Amorsolo in
the 50's. The 3 paintings are ruggedly nailed together, assembled side by side, painted with an image of foxing lenses
found in cameras, with the words written "Decorative Art." The work is play of words and images. This painting is
ironic as well as satirical. The art work is simply crafted as a decorative artwork and interior friendly. A nice piece of
art for art collectors with discerning taste.
Purarat: The soft liquidified shit painting, 2008
oil on canvas
60 x 90 cm / 24 x 35 in
Tibe: Harder than the hard solidify painting,2008
oil on canvas
60 x 90 cm / 24 x 35 in
Tubol: The really hard solidify painting, 2008
oil on canvas
60 x 90 cm / 24 x 35 in
Tibe, Tubol, Purarat, 2008
These works are made of decorative paintings that may be purchased from the streets of Manila in the Philippines.
The existing images of fish and flower vendors in cubist genre with bright pink and mint green colors dominate the
pictures. Seeing these works makes me sick, so I recreated the paintings and gave it a "New" and more "Aggressive"
identity faraway from its decorative roots. I wrote the words "Tibe" denoting the hard solidified shit. "Tubol" means
harder solidified shit. "Purarat" is the soft liquefied shit. Tibe, Tubol, Purarat are classification of different types of shit
or feces. The works are more aggressive and funny at the same time which makes it more appealing albeit not
interior friendly.
Who's bad?, 2008
90 x 121 cm / 35 x 48 in
This art is similar with the Tibe, Tubol and Purarat works where two decorative paintings were used again and
recreated to give a more aggressive and new identity. Two canvases nailed together and the words "Bad art vs. Bad
Taste" are written. This work is a play of words and the existing decorative images. In this case flower vases without
the flowers painted almost realistically.
This work is a challenge or question to the gallery going public or collectors to what type of artworks they must be
looking for whether subjected to complement an interior design of the house, which is "Art in Bad taste, or pure
uninhibited work of art?" For me, a real good artwork is something that is really bad.
RECENT WORKS, THE STYLE THAT IS KNOWN ALREADY IN THE PHILIPPINES
AS JERSON SAMSON
Emergency, 2008
oil on canvas
121 x 153 cm / 48 x 60 in
Done entirely in oil and on canvas. This work comments on the sorry state of industrialization in my country,
Philippines. An image of an old, beaten up, worn and useless ambulance with windows reflective of burning homes.
The painting is an ironic depiction of the bad conditions of certain public institution in the Philippines supposedly
helping the basic needs of the people, especially the poor. The art also reflects how unabated corruption in the
government affects the lives of the citizenry.
Temptation with the forbidden and irresitable guilty pleasure
oil on canvas
128 x 149.5 cm / 50 x 59 in
This painting shows how unrelated images create interesting ideas when placed or composed side by side. The first
notable image in the background are burning homes and people in panic, running for their lives, colored in
monochromatic red and oranges, thickly and forcefully painted in oil to evoke an intense feeling of horrifying heat,
almost hellish. In the foreground is a simple, cute and childish image of a melting white ice cream. The fire and the
ice cream simply suggest the temptation of indulging forbidden and irresistible guilty pleasures.
"5 - 6" (FIVE-SIX),2008
oil on canvas
150 x 181.5 cm / 59 x 71 in
Five six refers to the mode of payment to money or items loaned or "Utang" (in Filipino), which the debtor pays at
20% interest rate. If I borrow 500, I shall pay it back for 600.
This system was made popular by Indian nationals; addressed as Bombay in the Philippines, them being popularly
known for lending money on a daily collection basis with 20% interest rate per month. They deal business mostly with
economically marginal people.
THE STYLE THAT IS KNOWN ALREADY IN THE PHILIPPINES AS JERSON SAMSON
Souvenir, 2008
oil on canvas
3 x 4 feet / 91 x 122 cm / 36 x 48 in
Biglang Liko, (The Love Motel), 2007
oil on canvas
6 x 9 feet / 183 x 274 cm / 72 x 108 in
Looban, (The insiders), 2008
oil on canvas
2 panels of 4 x 5 feet / 122 x 152 cm / 48 x 60 in
Trono, (The thrown), 2005
oil on canvas
3 x 4 feet / 91 x 122 cm / 36 x 48 in