Mark Nicdao - Portal 5.122 “The Imaginings of a Disinhibiting Manic Neurotransmitter” (beta version)

MARK NICDAO 1ST SOLO EXHIBITION

Portal 5.122 “The Imaginings of a Disinhibiting Manic Neurotransmitter” (beta version)

02.22.2022

G/F Corinthian Plaza, 121 Paseo de Roxas, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

MARK NICDAO 1ST SOLO EXHIBITION

2

Portal 5.122 “The Imaginings of a Disinhibiting Manic Neurotransmitter” (beta version)

3

4

TABLE OF

CONTENTS EXHIBITION NOTES

06 - 07

“Will-O’-The-Wisp”

10 - 11

“A Shallow Cover Up of

12 - 13

What’s Eating you Up” “Attached Is A Map”

14 - 15

“Got You Something,

16 - 17

Its On The Way” "A Disarmingly

18 - 19

Repulsive Intrusion, You Subconciously took part in" “Psychoholic”

20 - 21

"Untitled 4.6 B.P.N.2J"

22 - 23

“The Library of a

24 - 25

Subconscious Acting Gland” aka “Alam mo yung pinagtataguan ni Bugs Bunny” “UbyME”

26 - 27

“A Very Alarming Version

28 - 29

of a Pinch of Reality” “In Truth Lies thine

30 - 31

Treason, Still and All, We both - will be, Spiritual Heathens.”

ARTIST BIO

32 - 35

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

36 - 37

5

MARK NICDAO

Portal 5.122 “The Imaginings of a Disinhibiting Manic Neurotransmitter” (Beta Version) Mark Nicdao has always had the talent of hiding in plain sight.

Portal 5.122 : “The Imaginings of a Disinhibiting Manic Neurotransmitter” (Beta Version) is the title of his f resh, new exhibit. He declares simply, “It’s where I am now.”

Indeed, these are coded coordinates to a map of his life.

It also alludes to his unerring talent for f inding the right face, at the right moment, in the right place — and to bringing us to a state of both awe and suspended animation, as we contemplate the power of the beauty that his various subjects possess.

Photography is a dark art, part alchemy, part circumstance : Nicdao can tell you himself how both the bizarre and the familiar can catapult the viewer into another dimension. The photographer is therefore a sort of intermediary for all of the above and it is his talent, technical as well as visionary, that allows him to create our ultimate illusions.

It’s a bold direction for Mark, an exhibition not entirely dominated by the art that has made him the Philippines’ most famous photographer.

Or is it?

Drawing on an imagination so outsized that it interrupts his dreams and surfaces as what can only be termed as “visions”, Mark has tapped formally (or perhaps the right word is voluntarily) into the subconscious w h i c h c o l o r s a l l o f h i s wo r k . T h e r i ve t i n g , a l m o s t p syc h o t ro p i c hallucinations are very much a part of his process. “I mean that I sometimes see animals killed in f ront of me,” he says disturbingly casually. It’s a f ree flow between these creatures f rom the ether and his inspirations. To create, he must channel into these trances.

Aberrantly but not surprisingly, Mark became caught up in a real-life night terror. In late September 2021, his best f riend and muse, s o m eo n e h e re g a rd e d so sp ec ial an d u nattainab le h e ha d given h e r t h e t i t l e o f “ p ro m d ate” p erish ed . (M ark has of ten said h e’s had an unusual childhood devoid of all the normal, silly pleasures such as corny, high school romances.)

6

Taking to social media as therapy, he found himself caught up on the other side of the looking glass. He was no longer the hunter, but the prey; and was hounded by the ‘papps” who were mesmerized by his candid revelations.

It was the kind of crucible that unexpectedly made his art possible — and immediate. He says that he kept hearing ‘her’ voice in his ear, “Hey, Mark, you have to start working on something!” It helped him to move forward at a time when that seemed impossible. “I entered this phase when my body was just telling me to stop being foolish and stupid. I don’t or couldn’t really feel, if that makes any sense, but a lot of feelings are involved. And I am so tired of it.”

He’s therefore the perfect person for f ree association, living so apparently on the tendrils of his emotions. The f irst three words out of his mouth that he thinks describes the exhibit are : “electrifying”, “boisterous”, and “disf igurement.” It’s jarring and uncomfortable. These are perhaps clues to the facets of the introverted Mark one least expects and which the public rarely sees.

The next series of words is “longing”, “open” and “scab.” This is the next layer as he peels off his waking mind. “I’m actually digging in and not being obvious about the pain,” he conf ides.

And then there is “no mistakes”, “manic”, “melancholia” which escape his f ilters. No further explanation needed here.

The ‘imaginings’ of this ‘disinhibiting’ mind become most apparent in the mind-expanding bursts of color in this exhibit. Van Gogh comes to mind in the works that push concepts of time, emotions and thought.

There are balloons and body parts, a throbbing heart in a ribcage, glimpses of the swirling tides and eddies — or is that fate? — of La Union.

There is a shaped circular canvas, a forgotten model’s face peers out f rom another. There are overpowering turquoises, chartreuses, and sunflower-bright yellows. And there is a plan afoot to bathe the exhibition rooms in special lights to make the paintings pulse and radiate even further. Mark has chosen to be happy and caref ree (in the most absolute sense of the word) and that perhaps can be another kind of disrupting idea.

Finally, fervently, the last word he f inds is quite simply “peace.” And so it goes. Welcome to the neurotransmitter.

-Lisa Guerrero Nakpil

7

MARK NICDAO

10

Mark Nicdao

“Will-O’-The-Wisp” 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 20" x 16" (51 cm x 41 cm)

P 80,000

11

12

Mark Nicdao

“A Shallow Cover Up of What’s Eating you Up” 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 24" (61 cm x 61 cm)

P 144,000

13

14

Mark Nicdao

“Attached Is A Map” 2022 Acrylic on Canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm)

P 180,000

15

16

Mark Nicdao

“Got You Something, Its On The Way” 2022 Acrylic on Canvas 36" x 30" (91 cm x 76 cm)

P 216,000

17

18

Mark Nicdao

"A Disarmingly Repulsive Intrusion, You Subconciously took part in" 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 31 1/2" x 35" (80 cm x 89 cm)

P 224,000

19

20

Mark Nicdao

“Psychoholic” 2022 Acrylic on Canvas 36" x 48" (91 cm x 122 cm)

P 260,000

21

22

Mark Nicdao

"Untitled 4.6 B.P.N.2J" 2021 Mixed Media 56 3/8" x 38" (143 cm x 97 cm)

P 320,000

23

24

Mark Nicdao

“The Library of a Subconscious Acting Gland” aka “Alam mo yung pinagtataguan ni Bugs Bunny” 2022 Acrylic on Canvas 48" x 48" (122 cm x 122 cm)

P 346,000

25

26

Mark Nicdao

“UbyME” 2022 Acrylic on Canvas 48" x 48" (122 cm x 122 cm)

P 346,000

27

28

Mark Nicdao

“A Very Alarming Version of a Pinch of Reality” 2021 Acrylic on Canvas 40" x 60" (102 cm x 152 cm)

P 360,000

29

30

Mark Nicdao

“In Truth Lies thine Treason, Still and All, We both - will be, Spiritual Heathens.”

2021 Mixed Media 4x5 Format Digital Photo Printed on Canvas painted on Acrylic 55 1/2" x 75 1/2" (141 cm x 192 cm)

P 620,000

31

MARK REGALA NICDAO IG @markednicdao PERSONAL INFORMATION Date of Birth: Nationality: Status: Gender:

February 21, 1979 Filipino Single Male

EXPERIENCE AND AFFILIATIONS Mar 2007 to Present - Founder / CEO / Photographer at Large Wildbunchplus MN Inc. - Manila, Philippines Mar 2014 to Present

- Photographer Artists and Company Manila - Manila, Philippines (formerly known as At East Jed Root Manila)

Jan 2007 to Oct 2016 - Photographer at Large Rogue Magazine - Manila, Philippines Work Prof ile: • • •

Renowned celebrity, fashion, and advertising photographer with work in both the local and regional scenes Contributing photographer to various top international and local fashion magazines Collaborated with UN World Food Programme and UNICEF’s “Heroes For Children”

EXPERIENCE AND AFFILIATIONS 1999 to 2003 - University of the Philippines - Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Certif icate in Fine Arts (CFA) Major in Visual Communication 1997 to 1999

- University of Perpetual Help System DALTA – Las Piñas City, Philippines Intermediate, High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certif icates

32

MILESTONES, WORKS, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS •

Started his career as a professional photographer in 2003, and became one of the pioneers to embrace digital photography in the country.

•

Received the “Hot Shot” award f rom the f irst Supreme to The Extreme Awards which was organized by The Philippine Star (one of the country’s major broadsheets) in 2008.

•

Launched his f irst major one-man photo exhibition, Alive, in 2009, which featured some of the top celebrities in the local fashion and entertainment industries.

•

Cited as the most sought-after “Celebrity Fashion Photographer in the Philippines” in 2010 by one of the country’s top broadcast and entertainment networks, ABS-CBN.

•

Published his f irst coffee-table book entitled, Vantage, in 2011 with one of the country’s leading publishing houses, ABS-CBN Publishing.

•

Nominated as one of “Fashion Asia’s Top Fashion Photographers,” which was held in Dalian, China in 2011.

•

Received a “Special Recognition for Excellence in Photography” citation award at the Second Philippine Fashion Ball in August 2012.

•

Recognized as a guest speaker for his contribution in Philippine fashion photography by Photoworld Asia in 2014.

•

Partnered with World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with WFP Ambassadress KC Concepcion in 2015 for a one-of-a-kind photo exhibition and charity auction for the benef it of the victims of the Nepal earthquake.

33

•

Photographed various local and international artists for several fashion magazines globally. Projects included numerous international shoots for Mega Magazine (“Making Mega” series) in South Af rica, France, Portugal, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and Australia.

•

Done some personal work shooting f ilm stills for actress Catherine Deneuve in a movie by Andre Techine in Paris and had a sitting with Hollywood actor Tommy Lee Jones in Monaco for a f ilm festival.

•

Highlight shoots featuring famous celebrities in the international scene include: » » 2011 – Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for several advertising campaigns including Victorinox and Nike » » 2012 – Musician Adam Levine for an advertising campaign for Bench (a local and global apparel brand based in Manila) » » 2012 – Celebrities Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner for an advertising campaign for Human (a local apparel brand based in Manila) » » 2012 – Singer David Archuleta for Bench apparel » » 2012 – Former American Idol contestant and international singing sensation Jessica Sanchez for an advertising campaign for Jollibee (the famous Philippine fast-food chain) and an editorial feature in Mega Magazine » » 2013 – Various cast members of Glee (the hit US television series) for a cover shoot in Chalk Magazine (a local teen magazine) » » 2014 – Socialite Paris Hilton for an advertising shoot for Azure Century Properties » » 2015 – British Popstar Rita Ora for a magazine cover shot in Ho Chi Minh City for Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam » » 2019 – Boxing promoter and Professional Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. for Belo Medical Group x Thermage

•

Recent signif icant works include: » » Jan 2017 – 65th Miss Universe Pageant photo shoot held in the Philippines for a special edition coffee-table book

34

» » Aug 2017 – a powerhouse tie-up with Maserati as one of the spokespersons/brand ambassadors for their “People of Passion” project alongside other known personalities in Philippine Society, such as automotive journalist James Deakin, television personality Marc Nelson, and surferentrepreneur Paolo Soler. » » Jan 2018 - Maserati—a photo exhibition/auction in support of Hope In a Bottle titled “X - Ray”. » » May 2018 – Collaboration with Artist Henri Lamy held in Makati, titled - “Lost Transportation”. » » Mar 2019 – Group show at Leon Gallery International in Makati, titled – “In the Near Distance”, with Artists Ian Anderson, Olivia d’Aboville, Henri Lamy, Leeroy New and Enzo Razon. » » Dec 2019 – Groupshow held at Modeka, Makati City titled “Nothing Gold Can Stay” with Artists Dedy Suf riadi, Sinta Tantra, Lynyrd Paras, Ronald Aprian, 13 Lucky Monkey, Jono Pisano and Caryn Koh. » » Feb 2020 – Directed a music video for Music Artists BAWAL CLAN with their song “WUTS RLY GUD” shot on location in Botolan, Zambales and Olangapo City. » » May 2020 – Brand Ambassador for OPPO Mobile, Philippines for their mobile product OPPO Find X2 Pro. » » March 2021 – included at Asia’s Most Influential: The Culture List 2021 for Tatler Philippines and the whole Tatler Asia Group of Magazine

35

Acknowledgments A Joint Project of León Gallery International and DF Art Agency

León Gallery International Address G/F Corinthian Plaza, 121 Paseo de Roxas, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines Contact info@leon-gallery.com (02) 846 7416 (02) 856 2781

Website www.leongalleryinternational.com www.leon-gallery.com @leongallerymakati @leongallerymakati

DF Art Agency Address UG 24 Star Centrum 317 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Malugay St. Bel-Air, Makati City, 1209 Contact artagencydf@gmail.com (+63) 915 216 3684

Website www.df-artagency.com @df_artagency @df_artagency

Mark Nicdao “Psychoholic”

G/F Corinthian Plaza, 121 Paseo de Roxas, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines