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This Singapore-based Filipino architect rediscovered painting in the pandemic. Now he is in Art Fair Philippines
At the Art Fair Philippines media preview, Johnrey Quiban couldn’t stop smiling. He couldn’t believe his luck either.
It’s the 38-year-old Singapore-based Filipino architect’s first time participating in the highly acclaimed art event, as one of the artists that Galerie Stephanie is exhibiting at their space, in Booth 44 on the 6th floor of The Link Carpark.
“It’s all overwhelming,” Quiban tells GMA News Online, wide-eyed. “Bago lahat sa ‘kin,” he adds.
While Quiban has always enjoyed painting as a hobby, he forgot about it when he started working as an architect.
It was when he moved to Singapore in 2012 that he picked up his paintbrush again, and when the pandemic hit, Quiban went on overdrive.
“It was out of boredom at first,” he admits. “Paint lang ako nang paint. Duon ako nakaka-release ng energy and stress.”
With strong appreciation for the likes of Monet and Juan Luna — “minimalist landscape impressionism,” he says — Quiban paints textured scenes of natural landscapes like mountains and streams, of oceans and of what looks like forgotten foot paths. They’re almost like vacation photos except Quiban’s landscapes are moodier and darker.
All his art is emotion-based, the artist says. “Ang process niya is, I have no idea what to paint,” Quiban says. "It's just a feeling, like a mood.”
“It's like, an emotion left unexpressed,” he adds, saying he doesn’t stop until he feels that distinct “lukso ng dugo.”
He likes to paint in the dead of the night, in the dark because “duon ako nakakakuha ng energy.”
"At this point in my life - I'm 38 - hindi ko alam kung depression or anxiety or kung ano man 'to. So china-channel ko ang mga 'yon to this thing," Quiban said.
When he rediscovered painting in the pandemic, his process also included uploading photos of his works on Instagram.
In 2021, Singaporean gallery Sound of Art took notice. “Someone messaged me, they went to my house to check some of my works. Then they asked me to join a group show.”
Things were going well with Sound of Art, with whom he would often join group shows, when Filipina art enthusiast, Mia Jaranilla, found him also on Instagram the following year.
According to Quiban, that was the first time he’s ever encountered Jaranilla. “I didn’t know her. Nagulat na lang ako sa kanya,” the artist recalls.
Jaranilla messaged him on Instagram, requesting to see a few more of his works. She happened to like them, and then offered to help him get his paintings exhibited in Manila.
“Sabi niya may gallery na naghahanay sa art ko. She introduced me to Galerie Stephanie in the last quarter of 2022,” Quiban said.
Quiban has since mounted a solo show with Galerie Stephanie, "Making Friends With Your Shadows," which ran from September - October 2023, apart from the group shows he was able to join with the Filipino gallery as well.
In December 2023, he learned he was going to be part of Galerie Stephanie's roster of artists for the fair, and at the media preview, the artist credits Jaranilla for his luck. He calls her something of a “vessel kung bakit ako nandito.”
A graduate of Baguio's St. Louis University, Quiban has certainly come a long way. He remains an architect in Singapore, but his participation in Galerie Stephanie's outing for Art Fair Philippines 2024 might as well signify his career as an artist is also in full swing.
“I'm so excited to be here,” he says again, still smiling.
Quiban submitted three artworks to Galerie, including a 48”x36” piece fittingly called “As Life Takes Its Turns.”
—GMA Integrated News
