Art master Malang, with his Saturday Group colleagues Cris Cruz and Caña, are pooling their talents together for the first time in an exhibition that celebrates the female figure.
Aptly called “Curves”, the exhibit of nude portraiture will be held at the Alliance Française from November 19 to December 3, 2007.

For this exhibition, Malang, Cruz and Caña have come up with their respective works based on sketches using live models as well as reference photos. They depict nudes in a variety of mediums, but each according to his style. Some pieces are full portraits, while others depict other facets of the human body.
Malang, who is primarily known for his “women vendors” series, presents a different aspect of his art in this exhibit as he bares a collection of nudes dramatically rendered in charcoal.
Cruz, whose works often capture the intricate details of flowers, this time concentrates on the feminine form using charcoal, watercolor and acrylic.
Caña, for his part, uses his signature cubism-inspired approach, with angular, geometric forms serving as contrast to the soft curves of his subjects.

In the realm of art, illustrating the human figure is one of the biggest challenges. It demands skill in rendering the right proportions and the appropriate positioning of the body to make the results as life-like as possible.

The three artists recall that, as fine arts students, they had classes where they had to draw actual models who posed for them. Today, they continue to hone their skills in this regard as they participate in nude sketching sessions organized by various art groups. All three agree that art takes a lifetime of learning and that constantly practicing their craft helps them get better at it.

Artists' Statement: Curves

Since time immemorial, the human figure has inspired artists from all over the world. We are no exception. Whether we make use of live models or reference photographs, rendering the human form continues to challenge us with the many intricacies that it presents.
    
That we have chosen to depict nudes makes this endeavor far more thought-provoking. The difficulty lies in achieving that delicate balance of light and shadow along with the corresponding proportions to create a likeness that truly highlights the curves of the body.
An added dimension to this exercise is the convergence of three different styles. Given the varying approaches that each of us has pursued as individual artists, the dilemma lay in whether to translate the image as a reflection of our personal styles or to break away and render the female figures as close to reality as possible.
Finally, while the female form is the focus of this exhibition, Curves is also a celebration of friendship. This show marks the first time that the three of us are exhibiting together. With God’s grace, we hope that this would not be the last.

Malang, Cris Cruz, and Caña