United States-based Filipino-American artist JEFRË debuts his first solo show in the Philippines through an exhibit titled, “Points of Origin” in the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in BGC. A sibling show to his U.S. counterpart, “Points of Connection”, an exhibit for the artist to reflect on his journey as a migrant to the United States, the aptly named “Origin” tells the story of finding and being grounded by your roots, a welcome-back celebration and thanksgiving to his homeland. It connects the two – Points of Connection and Points of Origin – as a form of bridge, between his two homes at opposite ends of the world, bringing together finally the dreams of his life.
In this exhibit, selected works from the artist’s portfolio have been reduced in size, like expensive miniature toys begging only to be watched and graced through their presence; Its original massive-scale counterparts are, after all, played specifically after their environments. There is also the interactive Talking Heads installation which explores the artist’s immigrant identity and his history with heart disease. Additionally, newer sculptures are included that are inspired by the energy and emotions evoked by major cities.
JEFRË was born to two artists: a landscape contractor and a florist, both of whose works impacted him early on. Taking up Urban Planning and Design, he worked at the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and then eventually moved forward with his organization StudioJEFRë to pursue public art. His avant-garde landscapes and eco-installation artworks have been on public display in various cities around the world including London, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Abu Dhabi, San Antonio and Manila, where the unmissable large-scale 40ft stainless steel figure stands in front of SM Megamall’s Fashion Hall called ‘Time’ from his Baks series. Currently, his new sculpture, titled ‘The Victor’ is being built and will be the tallest lighting projection art installation in the world, located in Robinson’s Land’s Bridgetowne with an effort to connect the cities of Pasig and Quezon City. It represents a male figure raising his fist in the air, a sign of pride for being Filipino; JEFRË akins it to New York’s the Statue of Liberty, and hopes Filipinos find it that way. It is planned to be unveiled this coming Independence Day 2023.
Among his collectors include Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, Charlie D’Amelio, Piolo Pascual, Iza Calzado, Yassi and Issa Pressman, Billy Crawford and Coleen García, Richard Branson, the Sy family, the Gokongwei family, amongst many others.
JEFRË’s collection of box head figures – the Baks series, named after the phonetic pronunciation of the word “box” in English – symbolizes his profoundly felt thoughts and insights about urban life and the multifaceted nature that intersect to make a desirable city. With that said, he continues at the forefront of innovative design, using new and modern technologies, materials, and textures to examine discrete object production on a big and small scale through environmental ideologies as he continuously seeks new ways to evolve.
The Talking Heads installation platforms JEFRË’s poem Heart to Heart as he reflects on today’s connected world and the ideas that divide yet illuminate us: nationality, ethnicity, gender, age, and language. Each of the installation’s fifteen heads bears one of these inspiring statements in a different language from the poem, which include statements like, “I am free, I am brave, I am kind”, resonating on such a meaningful moment of togetherness and at-one-ment.
There is a sense of longing in JEFRË’s opening exhibition: attended by over 100 art enthusiasts, it is safe to say we have all felt a sense of pride. A joyful and celebratory moment for all Filipino artists living and breathing in the now, allowing an electric flow of hopeful notes that we can all eventually achieve our dreams, too. With the climate as diverse and inclusive as today, the world has drastically changed to not just involve those unintentionally born to it but to give ample and equal opportunity to those that show promise; And that’s why the far newer, far better world works the way it is: because everything has always shown promise, and to let that go would be a waste.
More so, a majority of JEFRË’s artworks in this exhibit predominately feature the head: The power of art is about reflection, and our head and headspace allow us the time to capture a closer look at one’s own conscious thoughts and feelings, relying exclusively on observation of one’s mental state. Intentionally or not, all of the Baks series sculptures reflect back to us, the patrons, as if beseeching us to have one shared unitary moment in this singular space and time; Incidentally enough, the sculptures are named after ‘Passion’, ‘Love’, ‘Joy’, and ‘Happiness’.
With an exhibit that welcomes his homeland, this is what we felt: pride.
Curated by Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, the exhibit is presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in collaboration with Philippine Airlines along with assistance from Megawide Corporation. The exhibition is free and open to the public on February 15 to July 1, with pre-registration and confirmed time slots mandatory for entry.