Exhibitions

Flowers have long been a part of a rich visual symbolism throughout art history. Botanical symbolism derives from literature of antiquity, where plants were often used as metaphors for virtue, aesthetic tools for interpreting religious beliefs, or depicted as attributes of the painting’s subject. In a similar vein, Ombok Villamor uses this element to explore the binaries in the cycles of nature; including faith and reason, despair and hope, death and the birth of new life.

Villamor instills his floral work with personal symbolic meaning, representative of emotions experienced by the artist. His use of acrylic paints layered on resin are associated with notions of divinity, referring back to spiritual enlightenment experienced by audiences of High Renaissance art. Finding meditative and self-healing qualities in the outdoors, Villamor’s surrounding natural landscape serves as his largest source of hope and inspiration.

Each painting is carefully, physically constructed to form a unique hybrid flower. New and dying extensions from a variety of flora are brought together to represent a range of idiosyncrasies. These completely new species of flowers, natural yet foreign at the same time, reveal a strange and magical beauty. The resulting visual imagery is compelling in its symbolism and imagination as well as its prodigious technicality.

Rustom Cleofe “Ombok” Villamor’s oeuvre is characterized by fascinating abstractions of life-forms. The resulting paintings are organic narratives that bring out the rich dynamism and energy of life. This is keeping with the artist’s own explorations of nature – particularly his experience living on the shores of his native Samar. The paintings are most reminiscent of sea-life – a direct link to the artist’s roots – but they also celebrate the delights of other life-forms.

Villamor has gained recognition from a variety of award-giving bodies, including being a finalist in the Non-Representational Category at the 2015 GSIS Art Competition, and a semi-finalist in the Oil Category of the 2002 Art Petron National Student Art Competition. Ombok has had numerous sold out solo shows and has successfully exhibited at ManilArt.

“As Hope Blooms” by Ombok Villamor will be on view from May 13 to 23, 2021. Galerie Joaquin is located at Level 3 The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, contact Galerie Joaquin at +63 926 7227925 or email podium@galeriejoaquin.com.