The Collective
Inspiration for the exhibition evolved from the group’s desire to create visual interpretations of memories from their countries of origin. JJ Jose and Michael Sacramento are both from the Philippines and Siddhartha Deb’s family emigrated from India. Years after they came to the United States, Michael, JJ and Siddhartha met as adults and were inspired by a common understanding of childhood reminiscences from foreign lands. They shared romanticized stories as well as artwork motivated by thoughts of their homelands. Some stories were playfully regarded as personal legends and mythologies. What began as an informal conversation regarding Asian heritage and belonging has since expanded into a formal visual art experience, which demonstrates the interpretations of childhood memories from the artists’ pasts.
Although Michael has lived in the United States for the majority of his life, his childhood experiences, set in the backdrop of the Philippines, continues to help define who he is today. He values and helps perpetuate the sociable nature for which his old countrymen are known. Through his oil on canvas paintings, Michael uses the traditional, representational style that is most commonly accepted in the Philippines. He offers his paintings as a heartfelt homage to the relationships felt and witnessed in his country of origin.
Born in Canada to parents from India , Sid moved to the US at the age of seven. While most Americans immediately sum him up as Canadian, his story is a bit more complicated. Sid states “Canada is lovely, the US is my wonderful reality but my heart is in my homeland – India.”
Sid first experienced his affection for his home country in 1981 when he and his family landed in Kolkata (known as Calcutta to the colonial world) on his second trip to India. Everything spoke to him and made him realize that India is where the Gods and heroes that he had learned of performed amazing deeds. Sid’s artwork, initiated by drawings on paper and finished through Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, are a glimpse into what India looks like through his eyes and in his mind. They are his love letters to India.
JJ came to live in the United States when he was 11 years old. He was too young to have any afterthought of what living in the US meant and what he had left behind in Manila. Living in America was good and for most of his teenage years, he only thought of the Philippines as a place where some of his relatives lived. His college years awakened a curiosity about his culture. This curiosity lead him to join a then fledgling fraternity dedicated enrichment and appreciation of the Pilipino culture, history and heritage. It made him aware of the many different Philippine cultural perspectives from people from all walks of life. Now, some 22 years since he left the Philippines, he has gathered newfound connection with his homeland and portrayed his thoughts with pencil and paper.
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