STEEL ON STILLS

In Steel on Stills, Arnel Borja showcases recent works featuring steel sculptures that transcend their hardy and rigid nature to become vibrant works of art. Coated in bright oranges, purples, blues, and yellows, they take center stage as the artist shapes them into musicians playing in a bright and lively orchestra of cleverly assembled pieces. A renowned kinetic sculpture artist, Borja comes from a lineage that descends from a trusted anluwagi who was considered a highly skilled craftsman, carpenter, blacksmith, mason, and stone carver in Negros in the 1940s. He began his art career as a realist painter and later became a sculptor known for balancing freestanding, mobile-like modern shapes on fulcrums. He previously taught advanced drawing at the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) and holds an Aeronautical Engineering degree, which explains his passion for well-planned and sensibly crafted pieces. At 38 years old, he held his first one-man sculpture exhibition, and still continuously pursues this practice full-time. Each sculpture in the exhibition is a testament to Borja’s mastery, showcasing not just the physical form of musicians and instruments but also the essence of music itself. Some pieces even feature facial features assembled from other shaped steel components, with expressive eyebrows and pursed lips poised above flutes and clarinets, adding a touch of whimsy and personality to the ensemble. Through these sculptures, Borja invites us to experience music in a visual form, capturing the essence of musicality on still steel. The playful and lighthearted look of these artworks crosses borders, offering a unique visual rhythm that resonates with art enthusiasts and music lovers alike. Borja finds inspiration for his recent pieces in their remarkable similarity to cacti in the desert, echoing these plants in their form, design, and resilience. After all, cacti have evolved to survive in harsh environments by storing water, minimizing water loss through evaporation. A deeper connection between the cacti’s role in the desert ecosystem and his own creative process also emerges: just as cacti provide shelter, water, and stability to the desert environment, the artist gathers divine inspiration from his surroundings and experiences, absorbing stimuli to craft meaningful and innovative artworks. As music and art are balms to the soul, cacti serve as a means of survival in the desert, truly appreciated in these trying times. In Steel on Stills, Borja’s sculptures reflect not just the physical resemblance to cacti but also the undeniable link between nature’s ingenuity and the artist’s creative journey, governed by inspiration and soothed by music, with art emerging from the absorption and transformation of external influences into unique and dynamic forms. The exhibition may be considered a celebration of art’s ability to transform hardy materials into expressions of joy. Just as we enjoy jazz or spontaneous melodies, the artist’s sculptures invite us to immerse ourselves in the harmonious blend of color, form, and music captured within each piece.

Solo exhibition

Featured Artist:

Arnel Borja

Location:

Unit 625, Level 6, Main Wing Shangri-La Plaza, take the Mercury Drug elevator (beside Carolina’s)

Schedule:

May 1-10, 2024

Contact:

For Inquiries: [email protected]
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