Drawing ideas from his father’s machine shop and the expansive creative work in the tradition of Leonardo da Vinci, Mark Justiniani presents site-specific works that engage the mechanics and metaphors of visual illusion in his exhibit, “Tila,” at the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo City, Rizal.  Show opens on Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.

 

The artist plays with the double meaning of the Tagalog word tila as semblance and also as cessation of rain, as it occurs in its two inflections as spoken word. The inflection and its double meanings refer to his framing of semblance in visual illusion, like the movement produced by spinning frames and mirrors, inasmuch as it also refers to his exposure of the mechanism and the science behind such feats of magic and mimicry.

 

For the artist, the cessation of rain indicates an end to a period of downpour, both of prescribed aesthetics and also of the need for relevance—contending forces in contemporary art practice. Instead he invites people with his interactive works to experience the wonder and curiosity of how art creates magical illusions, and yet  also allows awareness of how it works.

 

“Tila” will run until January 2014. Justiniani will also take part in Art Singapore Platforms in January.

As part of the opening, artist and curator Riel Jaramillo Hilario will present a brief talk on the development of Justiniani’s artistic career, from his early days as a young painter of the Salingpusa group to the present.

 

For inquiries, call Mikey Blanco at tel. 6971015, or check out PintoArtMuseum page on Facebook.

Pinto Art Museum is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday till Sunday. It is at 1 Sierra Madre St., Grand Heights, Antipolo City, Rizal.