Provenance: Artery Art Space, Quezon City

Exhibited: Artery Art Space, How to Make a Body Without Me Possible (Group exhibition with Lyndon Maglalang and Neil Pasilan), Quezon City, April 13 - May 4, 2019

ABOUT THE WORK

The alluring landscapes of Mark Andy Garcia portray a horizon that appears like a demarcation between land and heaven. Regarded as intuitive, gestural, and expressionist, the marks and textures on his canvases are evidence of the painter’s hand, presence, and persona. His painterly style serves to impart emotional honesty to paintings, resembling entries in journals. In the old works of Garcia, narratives are abundant. He used to tell stories within the confines of the visual plane, a segment of his life in every oeuvre. Later on, he came to the realization that his audiences do not need to know everything and that he has to keep parts of his life private. Without having to retell his experiences on his canvases, his subjects become representations of the inner self. His works and exhibitions can be understood as both autobiographical and theological. Titles like “New Beginnings,” “Stand Still,” “Human Nature,” “Blessings in Disguise,” and “Two-edged Sword” can be interpreted as an analysis of the doctrines of the Christian faith as personal declarations and revelations. In 2019, the year this piece was made, Garcia held two solo exhibitions titled “Chest To Heart” and “Promised Land.” (P.I.R.)