Artist and art educator ABE L. OROBIA believes that finding one’s own path is more important than relying on inherited fame
During the height of the pandemic, artist Eleazar Abraham L. Orobia, better known as Abe, was one of those artists who did not stop teaching art even though there were problems with its communication. Abe, a teacher at the College of St. Benilde, had a full setup, a dual camera and recorded art sessions via Zoom. “Even though the sessions are sometimes long, my students appreciate that. Other online study sessions have been stressful for students during the pandemic. Maybe our sessions made them happy because it was something new,” says Abe.
Abe comes from a line of artists. He belongs to the Luna bloodline; Still, Abe believes that one’s greatness should not depend solely on having a prestigious family member. “Whether you are a son or a grandchild. My mantra is to forge your own path to become great yourself. What you are good at, that is your goal, because the circumstances of the time you are given are different,” he says. At the age of five, he achieved the distinction of being the youngest participant in two group exhibitions organized by the First Filipino Good Samaritan Artists. These exhibitions took place at the Philamlife Pavilion on UN Avenue, Manila, in 1989. A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Fine Arts, Abe has participated in several group exhibitions and developed his own solo exhibitions. He received the TOYM (The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines) Award in 2022 for his long-standing artistic, educational and cultural activities. His recent exhibition entitled Unconquerable at the Pinto Art Museum in 2023 explores the themes of time and nature, emphasizing their all-encompassing nature. However, the exhibition mainly focuses on the tenacious power of the human soul, depicted by crumpled papers.
Last year, he also created several pieces for Kinetix+, the country’s first luxury boutique gym, which he collectively called “Bodies of Motion,” featuring grayscale line drawings of people participating in strength training. “It’s about energy. It’s about power and strength,” he says. Learn about the artist as he shares his creative process and upcoming exhibitions.
How long have you been painting and what inspired you to start painting?
I came from a family of artists, so I was exposed to art at a young age, thanks to my father and his peers. I was exposed to exhibitions early. When I was five years old, I was already participating in art exhibitions. I had my solo exhibition when I was six years old. What made me want to paint was because of the environment I was in. At university I had an organization that I led. I was the founder of Surit Sining, Surit, to search for the deeper meaning of art in art. Our advisor was the director of the UST Museum and the Secretary General at the time of UST, Father Isidro Abano.
What is your favorite subject to paint?
I really do symbolism. And then nature subjects. During the pandemic, my love for cycling returned. I’m from Muntinlupa. I can cycle to Rizal, Laguna and Batangas. Anywhere, actually. Nature became deeper for me. It became all-encompassing because so much has been lost during the pandemic. Nature became something healing for me. There are also human figures, but I currently prefer nature as a subject.
I had an exhibition at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the title was Images of the Nation. I stood up for the farmers, the maritime people, the health workers, the police officers, everyone affected by the pandemic. I painted human figures. Then there are floating papers, because floating papers represent a person’s life, it is short; it’s beautiful, but it’s short. We are just passing through the world. In my nature subject, those floating papers are still there. But I ended up changing the material of the paper to aluminum foil from the tube of paint. Human presence, it means that humans have a great influence on nature. We have to take care of it.
As an artist I don’t change my style. I like to add details, even if it is black and white.
As a teacher and lecturer, what do you teach others about art?
I have workshops at the Ayala Museum. We work with the collections of the Ayala Museum. There are Amorsolo, Juan Luna, Lozano. I take tours of people, especially my students. When I show them around, I tell them about the factors related to the works of art. The ‘stylism’ of that time.
There is a lecture part and they were happy that I taught them how to apply the method, style and drawing. And as a teacher, I encourage my students to always be passionate about what they do. Time is really of the essence. In reality, it doesn’t matter whether someone is rich or not; it is critical to strive for excellence. If you make an effort but don’t give it your all, that’s a shame. Maybe that’s why kids learn so much from me: I always show them demos. However, they can sometimes become overwhelmed by me due to my high expectations. Still, I’m generous. I’m just strict, I really warn them.
For example, your student may not be sure which medium to use. How do you inspire them? Or how do you let them decide which medium they choose?
In fact, I always say: I may be your teacher, but I am just one of many. I don’t give myself much credit. I’m just one of the artists they’ll get to know once they start working professionally. What I teach you is simply an eye-opener. I introduce many media for students to use. There are pastel colours, oil paint and acrylic paint. I often think that the most important aspect of a good painting is your drawing skills. If you can’t draw well, you will have trouble painting. I encourage them to experiment with different mediums until they find one they like. Others may struggle with one medium but excel in another.
I encourage them. I provide them with videos that I own. I let my students record how I work. Especially during the pandemic. For them my lectures are like a workshop. In areas such as anatomy I take a scientific approach rather than just painting. I have broken things down into modules as much as possible. And during the pandemic, I ask my head to lead a plenary session. It may seem arrogant to say this, but we were the professors most sought after by students after the pandemic. We never saw each other in class during the pandemic because it was all online. I mean, when they went to school in person, they looked for us. They said that even though the teaching was all done online, they really learned something.
Of all the exhibitions you have created, do you have a favorite?
Maybe my last two exhibitions, Images of the Nation, because I was able to bring creative voices to a disenfranchised population. Art is crucial. Doctors are the most important thing during the pandemic. But if there were no painters or photographers at the time, no one would have been able to provide an update on what was going on in society. Through my paintings and poems I was able to demonstrate the value of art in a difficult time like the pandemic. And then my latest exhibition at the Pinto Art Gallery, ‘Unconquerable’. These are my reflections from the pandemic. ‘Invincible’ is the human spirit. I was inspired by Ecclesiastes, a time for everything. There are things that are meant for everything. A time to die, a time to be born. The floating papers are also present.
You have created works of art for Kinetix+, collectively titled ‘Bodies of Motion’. Is there anything else you can tell us about it? What medium did you use for the artwork in the gym?
My work in Kinetix+ was commissioned near the end of 2022 and I completed it in the latter part of 2023, which was unveiled to the public during the gym’s soft launch in October 2023. I asked for a creative brief. That’s what I always do. My client asked me if I could portray bodybuilders in motion while they were training. He wanted the color to be gray, use monotones to match the interior of Kinetix+, more lines and no faces. I have done several investigations with ink on paper and acrylic, emphasizing movements while being guided to the correct shapes. First I also textured the canvas with an acrylic medium. To add more depth and layers. I enjoyed that process. That’s where you can show less is more in grayscale or black and white. It’s big, but if you look closely you can see the depth, the texture. The lines I made were powerful because the lines I made were evocative. Those who lifted the barbell, I really showed the raw energy. Even the ground exploded. For those bench pressing, there were lines pointing upwards to give the impression of struggle. You can tell a lot by doing the simplest things, lines and then black and white. It was correct not to put faces on the subjects that represented everyone. The linear element gives quality to the movement and power. I really appreciated my client’s attention to detail and it really helped me understand the science behind it. When I say science, the correct postures as in the three large images of the series deadlift, back squat and bench press, as we both agreed that my paintings will not only be mounted to decorate the walls of Kinetix+, but will also serve as a visual guide. Kinetix+ is more than just a gym; it is a sophisticated and smart gym with professional and skilled coaches to help every fitness enthusiast. If we go back to the other three paintings, the decision not to include faces is very appropriate. It makes it look like the lifters are really in a zone. Additionally, I have developed a rationale for the grayscale images of the figures in my series. Gray represents control, insight and self-esteem, all of which gym goers strive for. They would feel more skilled and exemplary after completing the Kinetix+ training.
What advice can you give to young artists or your fellow artists if they no longer have the inspiration to continue or start a particular work of art?
First and foremost, you need to be fundamentally skilled, because if you don’t develop yourself fundamentally, you will struggle to progress. Sometimes you have to force yourself to work. It can help if you are more versatile as an artist, know more subjects or just draw every day. At the same time, having confidence in one’s skills is essential because many artists lose confidence in themselves. Don’t be influenced by what you see either. Just keep doing what you’re doing. The more distractions there are, the less productive you will be. If you have to lock yourself in your room, do so. Remove all distractions that can hinder your ability to concentrate. Stay focused.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Next year I have a solo exhibition at Art Verite. I’m going to the Mindanao Art Fair this year. Next year I will also go to Art Dubai.
For updates on Abe L. Orobia’s work, visit https://www.facebook.com/SiningWithABE.
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