Colorful, cheerful and seemingly harmless, artist Toym Imao’s latest pieces, in his words, are what drawings and popups in a children’s book would look like had he written one.
Artist Toym Imao, through Art Loung Manila, holds his third solo exhibition dubbed as “Analog Childhood.” Composed of 40 tabletop sculptures and paintings, Toym’s latest collection is inspired by his childhood recollection of censorship when his favorite super robot cartoons such as Voltes V, Daimos and Mazinger Z, among others, were cancelled for their alleged bad effects on the minds of the youth.
Colorful, cheerful and seemingly harmless, they are, in Toym’s words, what drawings and popups in a children’s book would look like had he written one. The playful imagery belies his experience of growing up under authoritarianism and a child’s imaginative attempts at creating a story of the triumph of good over evil. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country, the artist also deems his show as a timely reminder for everyone, even those who were too young or weren’t born during that time, to never forget.
As Toym puts it: “It has been challenging for visual artists over the past several years. There’s something like déjà vu as the state has been flexing its muscles over an allied profession in truth-saying, the media. Media outfits and practitioners are being closed down or put behind bars. As artists, we are involved in creating a wonderful lie to help people find the truth. Right now, artists are being red-tagged. This is problematic. But as artists, we must reflect the spirit of our times. At some point, we have to think about what is happening. We will have to stand up and be heard. When we acknowledge our togetherness, we can protect our fellow artists. Let us all think about what is strong and beautiful about being Filipino.”
“Analog Childhood” by Toym Imao is on view until September 22. Art Lounge Manila is located at The Podium, ground floor, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong.
For more information, visit the Art Lounge Manila website, www.artloungemanila.com. You may also check their social media pages, FB: @artloungemanila IG: @artloungemanila, for more details.
