FOURTEEN Thomasian artists came together for “Vision: Eterna,” an exhibit inspired by the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which opened at the Manila Clock Tower Museum on Oct. 5.
Organized by the UST Atelier Alumni Association, Inc., the exhibit explored the themes of time and earth and was mounted in celebration of UN Month in October.
Patrick Naval, one of the curators and participating artists, said the exhibit placed emphasis on sustainable practices embodied by the SDGs.
“This is an advocacy for responsible art-[making],” Naval told the Varsitarian. “If there were 10 artists influenced by this, heard this advocacy, I think we did a good job on communicating this advocacy.”
Naval presented “Bahura 05” from his “Reef Series 02,” a collection that repurposes scraps from demolished houses—such as molave wood, stainless steel, and granite—into sculptures.

As an architect, Naval said it was the amount of waste he observed in construction that prompted him to become more conscious of his carbon footprint in his artistic process.
Renowned coin designer and UST fine arts alumnus Paul Balan exhibited his 24×24-in. oil painting “Terra Madre,” which portrays a mother cradling a baby in a circular frame.

According to Balan, the painting symbolizes mother earth nurturing future generations.
Exhibit co-curator Maryrose Gisbert focuses on the SDG of zero hunger, with her 24×24-in. acrylic on canvas piece, “Harvest,” depicting a woman selling fruits and reflecting the importance of food security.

Other artists featured in the exhibit were Franklin Caña, Anna de Leon, Anita Del Rosario, Bong Ducat, Jane Ebarle, Maria Magdamit, Milmar Onal, David Requilme, Dominic Rubio, Ida Robles, and Melissa Villaseñor.
Marie Pe-Yang, president of the UST Atelier Alumni Association Inc. formed the roster of UST fine arts alumni who participated in the exhibit.
The exhibit will be open to the public until Nov. 29. Divine P. De Los Reyes