Ronson Culibrina

Some Things Remain the Same 

Ronson Culibrina paints a longing for home 

September 17, 2018  / C-2

 Text by Hannah Jo Uy

“Some things remain the same, and some have changed,” says Ronson Culibrina, reminiscing about Talim Island, his hometown on Laguna De Bay. Located in Rizal prov­ince, the island embodies the stunning natural landscapes and quaint, idyllic scenes indigenous to the Philippines. “My life as a child on the island was simple,” he recalls. “You worried less about what was happening in your surroundings. It wasn’t complicated. The world seemed so small.”

 

Today, the world isn’t so small, even in Culibrino’s hometown. “Be­fore, there was enough fish for every­one,” he says, drawing a comparison. “Life on the island became more com­plicated and different. There are few­er fishermen. Many wanted out due to lack of opportunities, trying their luck elsewhere. But some have also stayed and tried to cope.” 

Reflections on the town’s efforts to keep up with the modern world became the catalyst for Culibrina’s latest solo show, “Above Sea Level” at the Yavuz Gallery in Singapore. The collection documented the daily struggles of a locale on Talim Island, from which the artist had been away for quite a long time. “When I decided to return, I no­ticed a lot of changes and I think that’s the main driving force—the mixed emotions upon seeing how different the place has become, memories of childhood and the years of longing for my home,” he muses. “These reflec­tions pushed me to create artworks inspired by my own community, and I have also tapped the potential of the materials, which became very useful in the art-making process.” 

As an artist, Culibrina is guided by his surroundings, deeply involving him­self in the present. Taking inspiration from both history and current events, he employs a methodical approach in developing art works that are both timely and historically relevant, by undertaking a rigorous process of re­search and experimentation to ensure a proper execution of his concept.

 

Culibrina was also influenced by his uncle, a painter who had sown the seeds of creativity in the artist early on. “Growing up, I would see him paint and I learned the basics from him,” he says. “He’s one of the reasons I became an artist.” Later, he joined The Working Animals Art Projects, a collaborative group that exposed him more broadly to the art world. Com­prised of young, talented, and emerg­ing artists from the Philippines, the group refined Culibrina’s attitude to­ward the creative life.

 “Before, I just wanted to paint,” he explains. “It was just a hobby. But the collective opened me up to a deeper purpose. It took me out of my comfort zone. I became a more mature person. The group also opened up doors and opportunities not just for me but for those who were starting up.” 

Now making waves in the art scene, both in the Philippines and abroad, Culibrino continues to be drawn to topics that are relatable and timely— whether in the form of environmental, political, or religious issues. Anything, he said, that can “initiate a good dia­logue with the viewer.” Remaining adaptable, the artist continues to ex­plore different mediums and materials in his artworks, eager to maximize the available materials and to always stay open to any new approach or possible mediums that capture his interest. 

His latest collection serves as a microcosm celebrating his evolution as a painter, where the artist delves into a subject matter that is intimate in nature in terms of providing scenes from places that hold great meaning, while also presenting vibrant scenes that underpin his personal environ­mental advocacy. 

Indeed, dialogue, is what Culibri­na’s evocative pieces hope to convey, as the artist expressed his desire for audiences looking at the collection to become aware on the effects of indus­trialization and globalization—posi­tive or negative. “I believe it is a good thing to ponder on,” he stresses.