Featured Artist of The Week: Rommel Mendoza!
"Nostalgia on canvas - a love defying death. My physician partner of 31yrs has spend almost 10 years of our lives serving the PLHIV community for almost a decade. The COVID Pandemic did not stop us, armed with only a face mask. it took its toll and my beloved Doc JB died of COVID, leaving me not knowing where to start picking up the pieces.
I turn to art, but let my heart instead of my hands take the brush.
advocacy work with my partner physician has taken center stage for the last 10 years and my art has taken a back seat. But the muse is insistent and now he reclaims that passion marrying it with his advocacy. Rightly so, because his advocacy now has given greater depth to his art.
Art is my eulogy.
Every piece speaks of the undescribable pain of loss, but at the same time hope as well.
In time, we'd walk hand in hand again...but for now... there is life... and art.
I am the founder of SEC registered non profit online support group for Person's Living with HIV (PLHIV), The Courage Pilipinas PLHIV Advocacy, Care and Support Inc, and we have saved countless lives thru our Advocacy, an abstract artist, and most of my works were inspired by memorable cases we handled. Some of my works were recently published at US based LitStream Literary Magazine Winter 20/21 Issue, a qualifier for this year's GSIS Art Competition Non Representational category, has a couple of recognition from Japan and Switzerland and currently signed up with DryBrush. "
Selected artwork:
AFFLICTIONS Series (based from the Haikus of Marcel Milliam):
Anhepatic, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"
I feel I have lost
Vital Organs from within
You left - I'm yellowed
Argyria, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"
Blue literally
Skin, soul, spirit, heart sinews
Deep seas, high skies - free
Gangrene, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"
It rots from within
This grave thing that is my heart
Longing for your touch
Hematoma, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"
My soul is wounded
It bled profusely my love
When your touch left me
Pallor, 2021, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"
Colors drain down fast
Bruises deepen in my soul
Ashen without you