“Ombok” Villamor (b. 1979), whose recent 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 in central Philippines. The ethereal paintings are most reminiscent of the country’s sea-life – a direct link to the artist’s roots – but they also celebrate the delights of other life-forms. In many cases, his paintings take on an almost spiritual essence—looking like they are floating life-nurturing galaxies in the middle of the vacuum of space.

Soren Kierkegaard said that life is a reality that is to be experienced. We feel it when we go beyond ourselves to understand its beauty. We see it through the forms it chooses to take—foliage, fauna, and all its colors. Life surrounds us, and artists have long sought to understand its beauty.