Geraldine JAVIER

Geraldine JAVIER captures a complex context of social, political, and historical circumstances which Philippines society was faced for decades, then reinterprets through her distinct perspective. Unlike her social-realist predecessors, Geraldine has variegated and extensive interests, who engaged in pursuing the personal and the idiosyncratic form of artistic expression. Geraldine’s works are full of tension and provocation, which are accumulation of cool, calculated sophistication with raw urban grit that influenced by international media and local pop culture. Geraldine constantly blends various types of material and media for her oeuvres, such as oil painting incorporated into installation art or combine multi-media object into canvas. Images of death, misery, dysfunctional relationships, and emotional violence are frequent subject matters that constantly depicted in Geraldine’s works, which are derived from her complex, viscous thoughts; and intimations, silent tensions and implosions of her art world. 

The mise-en-scène that Geraldine depicts on her work always allude an image of a sacred altarpiece, which is derived from her intimate involvement with a religious iconography. “I had a primary and secondary Catholic education. The nuns taught us of the sacrifices of Jesus and the other martyrs and from this I can deduce that the Catholic religion‘s foundation was built on blood and guilt as a consequence. The same guilt that the church exploits as it continues to exert an almost authoritarian influence on Philippine society and our government to the point of paralysis in terms of decision and policy-making“- (Geraldine Javier, 2011). Philippines is one of the most staunchly Catholic faith country, where Catholic Church continued to dominate large parts of the society. Along with many other Filipino artist, Geraldine rejecting religious allusions and links that based on rebellion against the Catholicism, but her work is still connected with symbolic allegories and religious context. Furthermore, her works talk about universal and collective values such as beliefs and hopes of the public, which are on the same line as faith.  

Geraldine JAVIER has participated solo exhibition at Arario gallery Shanghai (Shanghai, China) in 2018, PSP (Project Space Philippines) (Quezon, Philippines) in 2017, Finale Art File (Makati, Philippines) in 2015, Arario gallery Seoul (Seoul, Korea) in 2013, and Equator Projects Gallery (Gillman Barracks, Singapore) in 2012. In addition, she has participated group exhibition at Arario gallery Cheonan (Cheonan, Korea) in 2020, Silverlens Galleries (Makati, Philippines) in 2019, Havana Biennale (Havana, Cuba) in 2019, Arario gallery Shanghai (Shanghai, China) in 2017, Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) in 2017, Arario gallery Shanghai (Shanghai, China) in 2016, Ormond Hall (Melbourne, Australia) in 2012, and Prague Biennale, (Prague, Czech Republic) in 2009. Geraldine JAVIER awarded “Thirteen Artists Award” at the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (Manila, Philippines) in 2003. Major collections include NCCA (National Center for Culture and Arts) (Philippines), Central Bank of the Philippines (Philippines), Las Casas De Filipinas De Acuzar (Philippines), Singapore Art Museum (Singapore), and Arario Museum (Korea).