Art inspires young Ilocano artist’s first solo exhibit

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte—If you are looking for a new Johnny Moon, he may now be just around the corner.

Johnny Moon is a hip translation of Juan (Johnny) and Luna (Moon).

The prime candidate for now would be 22-year old Khervin John Gallandez of Brgy. 23, Laoag City, as his passion for art drove him to Samtoy Books, a haven for Ilocano artists where they can display artwork, consign books or use Samtoy as a venue for meet-ups, poetry reading, book launching and film viewing among others.

Located at the second floor of the La Tabacalera Ilocano Lifestyle Center just above the Johnny Moon cafe, which pays tribute to Ilocano hero and painter Juan Luna, a collection of Gallandez’ acrylic art works on canvass are displayed for his first solo exhibit.

Dubbed as “Requiem”, also known for Catholics as mass for the dead, the Halloween art exhibit featured mysticism and surrealism as it opened on October 25 prior to the celebration of All Souls Day and just in time for the provincial government-initiated Semana ti Ar-aria (ghost week) festival. Gallandez’ exhibit at Samtoy books ended on October 31 as it will move to another exhibit area at the Arte Luna gallery on November 1-2 in Paoay. The second exhibit features “Memento Mori” which means “Remember death”, a reflection of mortality.

His passion for art started in his elementary days when he would prefer to get his crayons and draw all day instead of playing with friends or whenever he’s left at home by his parents.

Without any formal schooling in fine arts, the secondary school graduate from the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades in Laoag City found himself in Facebook where he explored and learned from the sharing of a community of artists including famous artists abroad.

“Even if I was not able to enter a formal arts school [the nearest school is at the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur], my passion for arts did not stop me to dream big and I work hard for it,” Gallendez said citing that when he applied for a retail company, most of his earnings were invested in painting materials and supplies.

He said pursuing his talent now as a freelance and resident artist of a local retail business in Laoag, is all he wanted to do and this inspires him to do his best.

He said he is fascinated by the artworks of foreign artists like Mouse Lopez, Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo including Filipino painter Juan Luna.

Of all his paintings and drawings, the flight of the sky lantern, his first formal drawing shown at the exhibit makes him most proud.

“This reminds me of my passion as an artist. This makes me eager to keep my dreams high like the flight of the sky lanterns,” he said.