MASTERMIND Charli XCX
Swamp Things (detail)
ON THE CHART After pounding it out in the competitive artistic landscape of New York, ERNEST CONCEPCION returns to Manila with his ever-changing, imaginative visuals. By Nicole Nequinto Interview by Olivia Estrada
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ubsequently growing from the changing artistic realm of NYC, Ernest has found his step in the local scene with showcases at Art Informal, Light & Space Contemporary, and UP Vargas. He’s also impressed the international stage with exhibits in Los Angeles, Florida, Singapore, and Hong Kong. His Fine Arts training and real world experience has brought about a passion that continues to evolve. From “The Line Wars,” where he drew the battles hidden behind everyday occurrences in ink, to “Invasion of Ona,” where he rendered a fictional planet under siege through rich hues of acrylic on paper, Ernest leaps forward this time by exploring the nature of enamel and drip painting. These results into characters that seem to be stepping out of the canvas or at least possess a more tactile quality. Ernest claims that this latest movement is something that he’s been planning to do ever since he conceived the planet Ona in his mind; mapping out its territory through his artworks. From inventive sculpture-like paintings to a graphic novel and a line of toys, his artistic flare is one that he keeps burning.
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Jose
Hey, Ernest! How are you?
I’m good! In fact, my year is pretty packed, so I’m busy and should be more stressed than usual, but I’m excited. I’m currently working on new paintings for our group show this April at Altro Mondo, which are new portraits that I’m really excited about because I haven’t done portraits in a while.
We saw your works at Art Fair Philippines and noticed that it’s a bit of a departure from your past work. I remember “The Line Wars,” and it’s a new direction for you yet still different from the others out there. I love this new direction. I’m glad I’m actually working outside my own box; not the box there, but my own. The whole point of being an artist to me is challenging yourself and trying to transcend from works you’ve done before. And every time I do exhibitions, they’re vastly different from one another. I don’t show the same style and process in the next exhibition all over again. I’ve always compared exhibitions to a new rock album. You don’t want to be putting out albums with the same songs. You want to do a different tune, create an entirely new song.