A two-man exhibition featuring the works of Raymond Carlos and Jose Luis Singson

Deconstructing the planes of human consciousness

In “Planescapes,” Raymond Carlos and Jose Luis Singson imagine consciousness as comprising multiple parallel planes that ceaselessly overlap and intersect, crossing each other at points that ultimately influence the overall perception of one’s current reality. Each plane is allowed its own distinct character, bringing to life elements that are both familiar and easily identifiable, thus allowing the viewer to move through the layers, one by one, in a process that indefatigably defines and redefines the complexity of the human experience.

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Carlos delves into the plane of imagination, where the absurd take form. Figures are scaled down to impossible sizes. A camel is nearly as small as a cigarette lighter, its disproportionate representation mimicking a rather dream-like state. Likewise, it could be the opposite – the cigarette lighter has overwhelmingly increased in size, as have the other objects. This world they exist in – one of subdued tones and a warm, illusory ambience – allows these slight absurdities to thrive.

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Singson completes the picture by exploring the plane of memory and its relation to what we perceive as a physical reality. His works are draped in soft shades of black and grey, evoking a keen sense of nostalgia and lost recollections. The façades of the old buildings are like an entryway into the peculiar world of memories, where the past (or at least, what we remember of it) determines how we interpret our physical reality, presented by the artist as an abstract collection of variable elements, virtually formless in architecture.

“Planescapes” depicts these endless interplays between the planes of memory, imagination, and reality. The fleeting nature of human memory, and our inherent ability to fill in the missing gaps through our sense of imagination, create the truth and reality that the conscious mind inhabits. Our identity becomes the sum collection of these truths, whether imaginary or real, and the fleeting impressions we have of our physical realities. Ultimately, we find that human existence is the sum total of these encounters, an endless combination of different perceptions, recollections, impressions, and imaginations, all part of an intricate dance that eventually shapes the human consciousness.

Words by Elle Lucena

A solo exhibition by Taichi Kondo

TAICHI inherits the blood of two different countries, through his Japanese father and Filipino mother. Although he was born in Japan, and is currently based in Tokyo, he’s always chosen the Philippines to showcase his art. As such, he coined the word “JAPINOYSME,” inspired by the concept of Japonism, which likewise influenced the Impressionists of the 19^th century. Japonism is a popular Ukiyo-e culture that has spread to the West, affecting many artists and the general public as well. While recognizing the differences that exist between Japan and the Philippines, TAICHI produces works that focus on the foundation underlying both cultures. This he named JAPINOYSME. Aware that a new culture is always created when two different cultures mix, TAICHI chooses to use a rooster motif to symbolize their common ground. In his mother’s hometown in Bacolod, Philippines, roosters blend in with the people’s daily lives, and also represent the liveliness of their everyday pastimes as seen particularly in cockfights. In Japan, on the other hand, they are domesticated like broilers and are seen only as food. The rooster highlights the similarities between Japan and the Philippines, and at the same time reflects the differences between the two countries. TAICHI creates his works by drawing strong lines, soft shapes, and vivid colors, which focus on the culture, social background, and history of the two countries. The purpose of this exhibition is for everyone to appreciate this.

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TAICHI KONDO
Born in 1988
April 2016 – First solo exhibition at Finale Art File

Master:
Takuma Tanaka, Public collection: Ulster Museum, National Museum in Northern Ireland, and more. Auction: Bonhams in HK, and more.

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