Jevijoe Vitug has embraced the
dualities inherent in working as a Las Vegas artist originating from the
Philippines. A blend of Early Asian and Contemporary Western styles is evident
in his show “Wasteland/Oasis” at 5th Wall Gallery in the Emergency Arts complex. In the talk he gave at the opening reception, he listed
convergence, confluence and coexistence as themes that flow through his work
and which he sees reflected in the city itself.
Inspired
by the casino culture’s embrace of iconic architecture and exotic creatures
from around the world, Vitug has created his own seductive visual fusions. The
pink flamingo features in the large-scale triptych, combined with elements of
the multi-colored Sarimanok, a bird/man featured in legends from the island of
Mindanao, in the Philippines.
Vitug
described the culture shock he experienced when moving from a group of islands
with a conservative Catholic culture to the desert city of Las Vegas, where
water is a precious commodity and giant billboards promote sex as commodity. The
Wasteland/Oasis series of works feature converging streams of
water suggesting the merging of cultures flowing around iconic Las Vegas
landmarks such as the Strip roller coasters, neon symbols and phallic towers.
However, behind these vibrant
juxtapositions are areas of ruin. Vitug stated “Nothing is permanent, no matter
how powerful. We can intellectualize it, but we cannot control it”.
Exhibition runs through December 7th
2013.
Jevijoe Vitug is a Philippine-born Las
Vegas based artist whose work ranges from painting, performance and
community-based projects often addresses notions of survival and environmental
and economic concerns. Recently, he founded Re:Source Art and Development
(RAD), an art initiative dedicated to community collaboration, research and
development of locally-based resources.
Vitug
received his BFA in Painting (cum laude) from St. Scholastica’s College Manila,
Philippines and attended graduate school at San Francisco Art Institute’s MFA
New Genres program in 2008. His solo exhibitions include “Casino Capital” at
Momas and Dadas New Genres Project House (2013), “How To’s” at Winchester
Cultural Center (2012), “Before/After: Nuclear Weapons Testing Legacy” at 5th
Wall Gallery (2012), “The Truns” at Manila Contemporary, Philippines (2011),
“Source of Living” at Pablo Galleries, Philippines (2010).
He
participated in various local and international group shows, such as “Traveling
Miracle Show” at Reno Art Works, Reno (2013), “Parallel Lines” at Paul Nache,
New Zealand (2013), Rainbow 7: London Biennale in Nevada at PUAH Gallery,
Henderson, NV and The Contemporary Arts Center, Las Vegas, NV (2012), “Queer
Manila” at Manila Contemporary, Philippines (2012), “Yet Another Tea Party” at
Neant Bleu, Berlin, Germany (2011), Art in the Parking Space sponsored by
LAXART, Los Angeles (2011), “Overflow” with David Medalla and Adam Nankervis at
Space Gallery, Las Vegas (2011).“Let’s Build a Nation” at the Contemporary Arts
Center Las Vegas (2010), “Warfield: Project Survival” at Luggage Store Gallery,
San Francisco (2009), “Art of How-to” Koret Educational Center, SFMOMA (2008),
and the 21st Asian International Art Exhibition at Singapore Art Museum (2006).
He was also awarded Nevada Arts Council’s Jackpot Grants in 2010 and 2012.
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