In his latest solo exhibition “Voltaje,” Arce creates swirling, electrifying forms that explore the nature of faith and spirituality.
Recently, the Filipino artist known simply as “Arce” launched his latest solo exhibition with Art Underground entitled Voltaje. True to its title (Spanish for “voltage”), the collection comprises 10 densely layered pieces imbued with an electrifying energy. The artist’s faith—a prevalent presence in his works—takes center stage in the form of swirling forms that defy borders, escaping the containment of their gilded frames in beautifully uninhibited bursts.
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Revitalizing The Physical And Spiritual
Electricity serves as a physical manifestation of the divine, known for its ability to revitalize, empower, and transform our lives. Arce actually began the collection at a time when he needed energy—both in a real and figurative sense—in his Tagaytay-based studio during typhoon Kristine in 2024.
“My studio was badly hit during the typhoon,” he explains in a press interview. “At the time, my thoughts were so messy, then the storm hit, and it was all out of control. We didn’t have power or water in our area for four days. That’s when Voltaje happened: I thought we needed energy, we needed to electrify the area and my thought process. I also thought ‘You need to energize your spirituality on the side.’”
The painting process became a meditative one for Arce, who created dynamic forms that were spontaneous, with no pre-ordained patterns. “The final results you see feel like answered prayers,” he shares. “The swirling patterns are like the wind. It’s like whispering your prayers to the wind. (Translated from Tagalog: “Parang bulong, ibulong mo sa hangin.”) When you say a prayer or you’re manifesting something, there’s something that you want to happen in your life, it feels like it moves around with the wind. You keep saying it, you keep praying, and eventually you realize it’s already happening, it’s already coming true.”
Even the exhibition’s installations, also conceptualized by the artist, bridge the physical and spiritual realms, emphasizing the importance of “energizing” both dimensions of existence. Wires of light twist and turn, moving in and out of gold frames, serving as a representation of the passage between the two realms.
Beyond The Frame
“For with God nothing is ever impossible,” Arce states, citing the Bible passage from Luke 1:37 as the core idea behind his exhibition. This is evident in every aspect of his technique, a signature he developed through the intense layering of oil paint on handwoven canvas (specially made to hold the sheer amount of material he uses), melded with twisted frames that distort the pieces. These are forms that, at first glance, seem unattainable, yet somehow manage to exist: spilling over the borders, transcending the static image of a typical painting.
There exists multiple paradoxes in Arce’s works, perhaps a representation of the ineffability of faith, its ability to mean different things to different people all at once. Their elements are unconfined yet contained, chaotic yet tranquil, organic yet inorganic, a cacophony of textures that have no end or beginning.
The exhibition also marks the first time the artist is using gold frames in his works, a color that reminds him of electricity (most of his past works feature frames with more subdued, darker colors).
The Man Behind The Paintings
Arce’s art speaks for itself because it has to. He makes it a point not to reveal his true identity to patrons, viewers, and the press. No photographs with his face, and no meet-and-greets. My interview with him consisted of sitting in front of a laptop over voice call, a single photo on the screen showing the artist with his back turned. It certainly keeps people intrigued, but there is always more to it than that.
For one thing, Arce admits to being incredibly introverted. “I don’t really like socializing or needing to explain my works in public,” he expresses. The artist also wants viewers to appreciate the pieces on their own terms, as this yields the most genuine responses.
“Being invisible is also a power,” he shares. “I see people enjoying my artworks while I’m right beside them. Everything I hear is all very authentic, because the artist isn’t there. It’s negative or positive, but either way it’s great to hear—I think it’s a blessing.”
“Voltaje” will be on view until January 28, 2025 at Art Underground, located at the second floor of Mabini180, 180 A. Mabini, Barangay Addition Hills, San Juan. The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. For more details on the exhibit, like and follow @artundergroundmanila on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos courtesy of Art Underground.
