An Emotive Dance in Bronze

Ballet dancers use their body as an instrument through which they manage to convey a range of emotions. Often scantily clad these lithe bodies appear to defy gravity whilst being ever mindful of its consequences. With poise and grace they create their magic in this most sensual of displays within the performing arts genre.

This balletic ethos predominates in Jun Vicaldo’s Eros exhibition of sculptures at Megamall’s Artasia Gallery. As the name implies, he looks at sexual desire utilizing an idealized presentation of couples in a variety of emotional responses to their meeting. With an exuberant sense of movement, Vicaldo informs many of these synthetic bronze pas de deux breathing life into the stylized forms. Like ballet dances his couples often defy gravity as they come together to celebrate their love.

In the 38 inch high “Star Fire” the two figures are captured in that moment before gravity influences their grande jetes and brings them back to earth as they collide in mid air and meld together. In 41 inch high “Love Formation” she knees upon his shoulder reaching upwards as he carries her effortlessly aloft. Likewise with 33.5 inch high “Fusion” the embracing lovers rise through the bonds that would hold them earth bound.

When this sense of movement, which Vicaldo has imbued into his works, is subdued a darker side of the emotional turmoil created by the Greek deity is revealed. As in “Main de Diable” in which the pair of protective hands that surround the open mouthed lovers are ignored as they marvel in their discovery. Likewise with “Orpheus and Eurydice”, in an interesting if unorthodox reading, Eurydice turns away to reach beyond the embrace of the bemused Orpheus.

And then there is the life size “Malakas at Maganda” which dominates the entrance to the gallery. Perched on a tree branch these joined at the hip lovers recoil in surprise at the intensity of their emotional connection. For it is the emotional impact of Eros that interests Vicaldo which he presents through the interplay of his balletic lovers as well as in his depiction of more classical themes.

Eros is on display at the Artasia Gallery situated on the 4^th level art walk of Mandaluyong’s Megamall until the December 6^th.