Joven R. Mansit

Foregoing Romantic Nostalgia

Text by CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG

Turning over the pages of Filipino history is an adventure, and Joven R. Mansit, at his prime of 25 years, recaptured the decadence of the Spanish colonial era with the ingenious use of old photographs. But Mansit embarks on his historical adventure not with the usual romantic notions one gets when reminiscing about the past; no, Mansit also calls attention to irony and tragedies along with the glories of the past. And it is with this cynical view that Mansit translated his creativity and fascination for Filipino history into alluring yet perplexing works of art.

Most people might mistake his paintings as merely blown-up photographs, and this is probably indirect praise for the artist’s talent. Mansit pays tribute even to the most miniscule detail. Blotches, cracks, and scratches which are often considered damage in photographs are made beautiful and almost necessary additions in Mansit’s paintings. Only true connoisseurs of art will appreciate the attention Mansit has devoted to these details, thus creating the illusion of an authentic old and faded photograph. 

Mansit’s tragic interpretation of the past is an intrepid move on his part. The past brings along with it a complicated mixture of emotions, and most people hold on to their preferred emotions like children holding on to remnants of their innocence. But Mansit delves into tragedy with remarkable wit, and his sarcastic view of the past is also interlaced with humor. Each of Mansit’s paintings has a story behind it. The “Casco,” for instance, features a man with a horse’s saddle on his head and hooves as feet. “It was debated then whether Filipinos should be considered fully human or if they were destined to be slaves,” he explains. “I placed a saddle on his head, indicating that somebody will sit on top of him and he will work as a horse, as a working animal.” The “Mimosa Pudica,” on the other hand, represents a woman with an exposed breast and a bird’s nest on her head. “I showed here the vulnerability of the people, especially females, during those times. The exposed breast signifies that they are open for abuse. Also, the bird’s nest on top of her head is up for picking, and you know that the egg represents the wealth of the bird. Taking it would be like taking the bird’s wealth. It is very much like our natural resources then,” says Mansit. And the “Perla del Mar” is Mansit’s view on Western colonization. Mansit says, “The elegance and beauty we see in these photos is the effect of colonial mentality. In “Perla del Mar,” I placed a sail on her head to represent the Galleon Trade. The Galleon Trade is a symbol of elegance, but it also has an objective correlation to slavery. Can you imagine just how many slaves they placed on the Galleon?”

With Mansit’s works, both terror and melancholy weigh each other down in a balancing act – ultimately though, it is the viewer’s opinion that will determine which characteristic plays a more important role. And this is just the reaction Mansit hopes for. “I believe that the true purpose of paintings is to disturb. When people look at my paintings, I want to touch their emotions. I want to change their perspectives, and I want to give them something to think about.” Mansit’s clever approach to art draws on his childhood days. “When I was a child, I was fond on doodling over advertisements. That’s the main idea of my paintings. There’s already an existing material, and I would simply intervene and change one’s perspective about that material. It’s a manipulation of shared symbols,” he explains. His art manipulation might be deemed twisted, but nonetheless, it is undeniable that his art is everything he has aspired it to be: contemplative, complex, and definitely disturbing.

“Camera Obscura,” literally meaning “dark chamber,” will feature Mansit’s photography-inspired paintings and will be his first one-man exhibition. This runs until October 15 at the Boston Gallery, 72-A Boston St., Cubao, Quezon City. For inquiries, you may contact Britania Art Projects. Check out their website at www.britaniaartprojects.com.