Launch date: December 1, 2012

Launch time: 7pm EST

Destination: To the conclusion or the beginning of worlds.

It is Dan Matutina (twistedfork), the traveler, who from his frantic sketching while on the journey to space, created these physical memories of what he had seen and what he had experienced.

At the Pablo Gallery, last 1st of December, Dan invited us to take a quick trip with him Into Space. A follower of the designer, I was surprised to see ultra-minimalist works with extreme play on lights and shadows; it’s quite a deviation from his textured geometry we are all used to. His installations are something else that caught me pleasantly off-guard.

“Dan explores the element of space, as one of the components of design encapsulated within a story that takes him to outer space. He opens the exhibit with his story of a hero off to see the conclusion or the beginning of worlds… and be in awe of a rare opportunity presented to him. The illuminated sculptures act as bookcases to the story. The breaking and the shattering into pieces is a metaphor that shines a light to the unknown.”

Dan sets aside his digital and texture-heavy illustrations to try his hand on serigraph against the natural texture of watercolor paper. The result is the strange, almost cathartic terrain of the worlds he witnessed.

Memories, imagination, and fiction push us to create. Just as the traveler was, we, too, should be filled with curiosity and go on a sojourn to witness all the possibilities to what is and what will be—or what could be.

It was a humble first solo exhibit from Dan, with good friends and good people to share the night with. He was also giving away silkscreen posters he made himself.

It is intriguing to be part of Dan’s process, but it’s one I would definitely keep an eye on. In the mean time, I’ll enjoy this poster, and his current works.

Photos by Kit Singson

Additional photos from Dan Matutina’s blog

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Stay curious,

Kit of The Girls’ Room

(Photos from Beauty Brick Hair Salon’s Facebook Page)

Have you had times when you left a hair salon disappointed? You feel like you came out with the wrong hair length, style and color? I have. Nothing is worse than not looking and feeling good about your crowning glory. Not to worry, though, I’m sharing with you one of Makati’s hidden jewels.

Beauty Brick Hair Art Salon is the only salon I trust when it comes to my hair.  Mr. Shin, a friendly Korean national who was trained in Japan, is the mastermind behind this successful hair art studio. His expertise includes Asian hairstyles and digital perms. Working together with his crew, customers are assured of a ‘do they will be happy about for a very long time.

My six o’clock appointment started on the dot. There’s definitely no Filipino time here! After quick shampooing and drying, Mr. Shin began cutting my long locks. While he was doing his magic, we talked in Japanese about the best products to maintain healthy, vibrant hair. And in just forty-five minutes, I’m more Japanese than ever compared to before in this photo. 

What gives this salon a plus is that the walls are covered with art.

If you think you need an upgrade in life, come by Beauty Brick Hair Art Studio and get that uplift that you need!

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Beauty Brick Hair Art Studio

Address: Unit 103 Dona Consolacion Bldg., 122 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air , 1227 Makati

Call for appointments at 02-473-5108

Monday to Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Love,

Aki of The Girls’ Room

(Photo by Aleyn Comprendio)

We know Valerie Chua as the Quiet Girl who creates dreamy watercolor illustrations. This time around, The Girls’ Room is giving her the floor, and letting her spill the beans on her art, inconsistencies, and accepting her unconventional love.

Interview by Kit Singson

1. Tell us about yourself as an illustrator. Why do you think people respond so positively to your works?

Hi! I’m Valerie! I’m a self-taught illustrator. I studied in a Chinese school when I was young and I was taught the rigors of Chinese calligraphy, which I grew to like during my high school years. I became fond of the fluidity of East Asian art, and also anime, while becoming obsessively controlling over my methods. My parents are attracted to Western classic (aesthetic) that I always feel the need to apply its canon to my work, but I always find myself falling back to more free-flowing styles. I’ve been working professionally for almost 2 years and I’m still figuring things out.

I get told that my works are “masarap sa mata” (“delicious to the eyes”). I love how Asian art is very colorful. I usually start with lots of color and then I mute them. People say they are drawn to this feature and it relaxes them.

2. Why do you keep on doing what you do?

This is kind of strange, but I often think of quitting art… every year. I think that a lot of artists keep doing art because it makes them happy, and they can never imagine doing anything else. That makes me jealous! As for me, art sometimes makes me depressed and disappointed that I have to completely stop for several months. Meanwhile, I’d do something different like work as an inventory migration personnel or a visual merchanidser, a teacher, or a musician. Nonetheless, I always go back to art. Just recently I’ve learned to accept that this is how I work. When I started out, I was set out on achieving grand goals. I realized that the more you shove that big-ass goal in your face, the more miserable you become, because a lot of times, it wouldn’t pan out. And I guess the reason why I stop and later come back to art is because when I disappear, all the expectations of myself go away with it and that strips down art to just wanting to create. It reminds you that the process is a delightful thing; that it couldn’t compare to anything else, not even the reward. If that’s what it takes to find meaning in what you’re supposed to love, then maybe it’s okay.

3. What do you consider the most unique element of your works?

A friend told me recently that from afar my works look happy, but when you look at each of them closely, my subjects are very melancholic. Maybe the paradox makes it unique sometimes. I’m always impressed with graphic naratives so I try my best to tell stories. I think I often fail at that, but that’s one aspect that I want to be very good at. Once, I declined a job from a client because I didn’t want to do commissions anymore. She insisted and told me, “I picked you to paint for me because your works make me happy.” It was a special moment for me. I think that if people can connect with your work, you have succeeded to a certain level. I also think that happiness is a hard thing to draw out from a person.

4. What keeps you busy nowadays?  Where can we see your work?

I just finished a couple of paintings for a number of exhibits. There’s Bloom Arts Fest in Cubao X on September 29 and Manilart 2012 at the SMX Convention Center from October 2-6. There are also a number of group shows in line until the end of the year, but the details aren’t final yet. As of now I’m focusing on creating personal work and also planning out projects for 2013. I recently realized that I want to get into so many things like the academe, apparel, or entrepreneurship. I don’t think I can ever offer my heart solely to art (but it’s definitely always there). My mind’s always itching to try something new.

VALERIE’S WORK

(“Passenger” Watercolor, 2012)

(“She waited for the silence but silence did not wait for her” Acrylic, 2011)

(“No need to look down” Watercolor, 2011)

(“Autumn Hymnal” Watercolor, 2011)

(“She speaks the truth your voice cannot” Watercolor and Acrylic, 2012)

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Follow Valerie’s works on @Vinylrain (Twitter) and quietgirl.net

Hannes Caspar is a Berlin based photographer who mainly shoots portraits of women in a style I can only describe as melancholic. His photos are brilliant, with a brooding aura so heavy you feel it in your actual chest.

In a time and modernity where originality is as rare an occurrence as Haley’s Comet, Caspar is the exception.

Visit his site http://www.hannescaspar.com

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Thank you, Jo, for introducing me to his work.

Be inspired,

Kit of The Girls’ Room