Corpus Animus marks a meaningful moment for Pinspired Art Gallery — not only as our first exhibition centered on surrealism, but also as the beginning of a collaboration rooted in a shared commitment to supporting artists. This connection came through E. Mark Gross, whose dedication to promoting creative voices brought us together with Filipino surrealist Jeffrey Q. Guanlao.
More than a curator, Mark played a vital role in shaping the exhibition — bringing the works together, guiding the process, and ensuring every detail came into place. With JickJick’s naturally quiet and introspective personality, this collaboration became essential, allowing the artworks to speak in their own language while being thoughtfully presented to the public.
JickJick’s pieces draw viewers into a space of reflection — somewhere between dreams and the subconscious. Recurring elements such as smoke, clouds, and butterflies appear throughout the works, inviting interpretation without ever offering fixed answers. We are left to wonder: what do these symbols mean to the artist? And more importantly, what do they mean to us?
This openness is what makes the collection so compelling. Across the series, muted sepia tones dominate, creating a calm, almost suspended atmosphere — until a sudden interruption: a burst of neon green smoke, a vivid purple cloud. These moments stop you in your tracks. They ask why. They ask you to look again.
Corpus Animus becomes less of a visual experience and more of a personal dialogue. Each artwork unfolds slowly, encouraging viewers to sit with it, question it, and ultimately, to find their own meaning within it.
Alongside this exhibition is a complementary presentation by E. Mark Gross (EmarkArtist). Working in abstraction across physical and composed formats, E. Mark develops a structured visual language built on color, gesture, and spatial rhythm. His practice extends beyond individual works into arrangements and time-based animation, forming a cohesive system rather than isolated pieces. A defining element is the embedded “E” signature — an intentional device that transforms viewing into active discovery.
While visually different, his works share a similar invitation: to engage the subconscious. Within the lines and shapes, viewers may begin to recognize familiar forms, archetypes, or imagined landscapes. You may even find yourself naming the works, creating your own narratives, and letting go of any need for a “correct” interpretation. In this way, both exhibitions meet on common ground — where meaning is not dictated, but discovered.
Two of the original works in the Color & Form: A Visual Language exhibition carry an added layer of purpose, with a significant portion of proceeds supporting Books on Wheels Valencia Mobile Library — a meaningful contribution to the local community and a reminder of how art can extend beyond the gallery space.
Together, these exhibitions offer more than a viewing — they offer an experience. One that invites you to slow down, to observe, and to enter a quiet conversation with yourself.
Pinspired Art Souvenirs also launched the Sin et Virtue art print book, curated by E. Mark Gross, alongside a collection of limited edition art prints featuring selected works by Jeffrey Q. Guanlao — extending the exhibition experience beyond the gallery.
The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Pinspired Art Gallery at The Henry Resort Dumaguete; late afternoons and early evenings are especially well-suited for a quieter, more contemplative visit.
📅 from March 27 to May 4
🕔 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
1 則留言
It was exciting seeing JickJick’s new work come together for this exhibition. I’ve appreciated his work and collaborated with him for years — this Holy Week show brings forward some of his sharpest pieces.
There’s a real energy in the way he pushes his visual language — evocative and at times unsettling surreal imagery set against moments of calm, almost heavenly stillness. The world he creates stays with you.
Working with you and your team, and bringing his work into the gallery alongside my own abstractions, has been one of my most rewarding creative experiences. What emerged feels especially resonant during Holy Week — a space that invites reflection, stillness, and personal interpretation without forcing conclusions.
This collaboration grew out of a genuine right-place, right-time moment. Jane, you and your team handled it with real care and precision — you captured the spirit of the exhibition beautifully, both in the installation and in this write-up.
I’ll be in and out of the gallery over the coming weeks. If you visit, take your time with the works — whether tracing symbols in JickJick’s pieces or discovering the hidden “E” within mine, there’s a lot there to engage with and enjoy.
E. Mark