Ka.Thar.Sis

Ka.thar.sis by Pinggot Zulueta at The Saturday Group Gallery, ShangriLa Plaza

Purgation and purification – Catharsis, in its original Greek form, denotes a release of emotions. A metaphor coined by Aristotle, pertained to in the Poetics, Katharsis emerged following a comparison on the “tragedy on the mind of a spectator to the effect of a cathartic on the body”. Pinggot Zulueta further expanded on this idea in his latest exhibit, Ka.thar.sis,, through his thoughtful reflections on alienation, solitude and loss of identity.

Ka.thar.sis essentially presents itself a visual dialogue, wherein the artist, in a candid and refreshing manner, shares feelings of vulnerability particular to those who have ventured into new environments. Drawing from his experience moving back to Australia, Zulueta channelled his personal epiphanies on the existential crisis that comes with being far removed from the favoured and familiar, and the disquiet it triggers within one’s soul.

While the collection is distinct in its merit, the show serves as a sequel to his last show, “Incepto”. As the last collection touched upon his internal struggles, Zulueta further expanded on this concept and moved towards a more holistic and philosophical discussion on alienation and identity through the physical vehicle, the face.

Zulueta is no stranger to portraits being a seasoned photographer with a colorful career documenting the evolution of the Philippine art scene, however, in his paintings his approach towards portraits take in a more intimate dimension. Instead of zeroing in on his own representation of himself, he shares his reimagining’s of other people, to further build upon these themes.

In the pieces set to be exhibited, Zulueta shares a fascinating discourse on the capacities of the face. Through the silhouettes of the figure, the seductive chaos of colour and lines alludes to the inner turmoil within the subject. In removing traditional features of the face, he delved into the soul, sometimes in a mood of despondency but always looking at life with equal parts seriousness and absurdity. Furthermore, he elevated the face as a vehicle for communication and a reflection of physical, spiritual and artistic disposition. In ka.thar.sis., Zulueta highlights the duality of the face as he elevates its ability to both reveal and conceal.

In homage to the endless enchantment associated with the face and to further voice out the sophisticated angst within his works, he turned to the words of luminaries such as George Bernard Shaw, William Shakespeare, Bob Dylan, among other personalities that are similarly reflected on the complexities of life, to title his works, adding another aspect to the thought process within each piece and the ubiquitous quality of such ideas.

Above this, however, it is important to note that remaining true to the original concept of Catharsis, the ultimate aim of this emotional and spiritual purge is towards renewal and restoration. In Zulueta’s decision to bare the most personal and private battles, he serves as a mouthpiece for these universal struggles, highlighting that one must  embrace the dark night of the soul in order to summon rebirth.

The exhibit runs until  December 30, 2017 at The Saturday Group Gallery 4th level, East Wing, Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA, Mandaluyong City.