Three friends, three solo exhibitons, one venue
Three longtime friends and established Filipino artists—Ferdie Montemayor, EJ Cabangon, and Hermes Alegre—decided to hold their respective solo exhibitions at the same time at the Metro Gallery in San Juan City. I often go to this Gallery since it is within walking distance of our house.
All three artists have established careers in Philippine contemporary art, having participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, art fairs, and international presentations.
Ferdie is known for his paintings of urban landscapes, human figures, and movement. Born in Tarlac in 1965 and raised in Antipolo, he studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines and is a founding member of Grupong Saling Pusa, an artists’ collective based in Antipolo. The group, whose members include Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, and Antonio Leaño, became known for its collaborative projects and exhibitions, helping establish several of its members in the Philippine contemporary art scene.
Ferdie received the Grand Prize in the Metrobank Foundation National Painting Competition in 1992 and was a recipient of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Award in 1994. He was also named Most Outstanding Visual Artist of Antipolo in 1995 and received the Metrobank Foundation Award for Continuing Excellence and Service in 2004. His works are also represented in important collections, including the Singapore Art Museum.
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His current exhibition, “Story Lines,” brings together paintings addressing everyday activities, childhood dreams, physical changes, public discussions and the passage of time.
EJ is known for his highly detailed, hyperrealistic paintings. He studied Fine Arts at Philippine Women’s University in Manila, majoring in Painting. His artistic career developed through participation in national painting competitions and group exhibitions before he began holding regular solo shows.
EJ has become recognized for his careful rendering of familiar objects and characters, particularly those associated with childhood, toys, and popular culture. His paintings frequently combine realistic detail with unexpected arrangements, encouraging viewers to look beyond the familiar appearance of the subjects. Over the years, his work has explored themes of memory, identity, innocence, and the relationship between childhood and adulthood.
His technique is particularly noticeable in his treatment of textures and surfaces. Whether painting fabric, fur, plastic, or other materials, he pays close attention to how light and shadow affect the appearance of an object. This technical approach allows him to give ordinary subjects considerable visual presence.
For this current exhibition called “Stages,” he draws partly from his experience as a father watching his two children grow. His works explore the different stages of life and how childhood memories and experiences continue to influence people as they move into adulthood. Toys and familiar childhood objects serve as references to particular moments and relationships. While these objects may eventually be set aside as children grow older, the memories associated with them often remain. This exhibition also reflects his perspective as a parent. Watching his children grow and develop their own interests has encouraged him to revisit memories of his own childhood and consider the different experiences that influence a person’s development. The paintings are not limited to childhood alone. They also speak to adults who may recognize familiar objects from their earlier years. “Stages” continues his interest in recognizable imagery, this time with a stronger connection to family life and the changes that come with growing older.
Hermes is a multi-awarded Filipino painter best known for his portraits of Filipino maidens surrounded by tropical plants, flowers, and foliage. Born in Daet, Camarines Norte, in 1968, Hermes graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the Philippine Women’s University, where he was a Benitez Scholar. During his studies, he trained under Filipino artists Ibarra dela Rosa and Mars Galang, who contributed to his development in figurative painting and composition.
Hermes has been active in the Philippine art scene for more than three decades and has developed a recognizable style centered on the Filipina figure. His paintings generally featured women with dark hair and brown complexion, surrounded by colorful flowers and tropical vegetation.
Among his distinctions is first place in the National Painting Competition organized by the Philippine Motors Association. He was also recognized as a Provincial Treasure Awardee of Daet, Camarines Norte, for his contributions to Philippine art. He has also worked as an illustrator of children’s books.
His current exhibition “State of Mind” presents 10 works in oil on canvas and ink, focusing on the different moods and expressions of his familiar Filipina maidens. Rather than presenting the women simply as portraits, Hermes places greater attention on their emotional character. For this exhibition, he also introduces colored frames as part of the concept. Rather than serving only as borders, the frames are selected to correspond with the mood of each painting.
The exhibition also includes ink drawings, offering a different approach to his familiar subjects. Without the extensive use of color found in his oil paintings, the drawings direct attention to line, facial features, and expression. Together, the oils and drawings demonstrate how Hermes can explore a familiar subject through different techniques and materials.
Although Ferdie, EJ, and Hermes work with different subjects and techniques, their current exhibitions share an interest in people and their experiences. Their friendship was the reason they decided to present their solo exhibitions together, but each artist maintains his own subject matter and approach.
Founded in 1991 by the late Irene Cometa, Metro Gallery operates from a private residence in San Juan and has continued to present exhibitions by established and emerging Filipino artists.
Metro Gallery is located at 214-B Ortega Street, Addition Hills, San Juan City. For inquiries, contact 0917-811-5399 or 0917-894-4373.
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