Aleng Choleng

An exhibit by the Independent Artists of Iloilo

THE Independent Artists of Iloilo staged an exhibit entitled “Aling Choleng” at Museo Iloilo recently. The group is composed of Nil Capinianes, Carlo Juntado, Liby Limoso, Scott Sarria, Joseph Firmeza, Arthur Jusa and Norman Posecion. The exhibit was curated by Guerilla Tactics.

The exhibition showcased the recent works of the said artists in remembrance of former Museo Iloilo trustee Zafiro Ledesma. It also marked the reunion of IAI at the newly renovated Museo Iloilo gallery under its new administration.


Aleng Choleng is a fictional character that IAI learned with Zafi. She reflects many truths about the state of Arts in Iloilo City, perhaps an art collector or a woman who sells peanuts or suman on the sidewalks. She’s invisible and intangible but unpredictable, demanding and influential. To the IAI, the unpretentious Aling Choleng evolved to become an essence or measure of what maybe considered valid in our local conversations about art.

Nil Capinianes’ “Dissected Shield” presents the traditional Anting-anting or amulet explored through the method of deconstruction. An original ideal divided into parts to create a new form using the same subject to show that whatever form it takes on, faith gives meaning to the idea.

Joseph Firmeza’s work is an invocation of marks and images, a ritual of drawing and applying paint with playful exploration of thought and imagination. His ideal revolves around his barriotic city, its past, present and future. He captures life through storytelling, the passing of time and a mentality seen in the city’s progress. “My uninhibited lines and brush works gives me that freedom to move, keeping me undefined.”

Carlo Juntado’s “(De) compositions” attempt to present multiple parts and layers in each frame provoking the viewer to see all the different layers or perhaps see what can only be easily perceived by their senses. To understand each part of the experience, the whole is not as complete without some of its parts.

Arthur Jusa’s work is a combination of vibrancy and energy of what is aboriginal and animated. He creates images with childlike approach. He attempts to re-create and recall the experience mark-making which he misses during his childhood.

Liby Limoso’s work is an investigation which arises from his desire to learn more about our unwritten past in Panay Island. Inspired by the earlier projects of anthropologists Jocano and Magos and his conversations with the Caballero brothers of Calinog, he aims to better understand the invisible structures and cultural dynamics about his family and community through our existing but endangered oral traditions. He wants to have and share an experience of Dindina, a language he could hear but not utter, hat he is supposed to be a part of but unfamiliar to him. Accessing Dindina fills a gap in his confused identity and allows him to understand and revitalize traditions that he should be a part of.

Norman Posecion’s “Transition and Evolution” is a collection of recent paintings and sculptures exploring themes, materials and techniques in preparation for his thesis work on material memory, transitional objects and transitional space.

Scott Sarria’s “Humor on Art” is primarily rooted from his personal thoughts and ideas illustrating art in the form of a comic relief. His work attempts to visualize the idea of an “instant artist”. His talent is in his humor. “I cannot create on every empty canvas I see, I will place a took of art on canvas rather than use it and I can’t draw myself but I can draw a shelf.”