Known Palawan visual artist Jonathan Benitez pandemic inspired painting entitled “The Mind in Isolation #2” is one of the 54 finalists out of 329 entries, for the Marciano Galang Acquisition Prize by the Ateneo Art Gallery, at Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City.
Benitez submitted two of its works on paper with the theme effect of COVID-19 for this acquisition. On November, twelve paintings will be selected as winners which will be put permanently at the Ateneo museum. This year’s competition is in partnership with Italian embassy, to which the Italian ambassador will select two painting and will be marked as embassy collection.
“Ang prestigious dito, pag na collect ng museum ang gawa ng artist malaki ang effect sa career dahil parang na institutionalized ka na rin, parang form of validation ng respected art establishment,” Benitez said.
Benitez is one of the founder of Palawan Artists Collective, a recipient of numerous awards for the art both local and national, among them are Isang Kuwento ng Pag-Asa by Vice President Leni Robredo in 2019 and Parangal sa mga alagad ng Sining sa Palawan, National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2020. He is also notable in doing exhibits and art shows in Palawan and in Manila.
“In my art, I am always trying to mirror the interconnectedness of all living things, their beauty and fragilities, also I am trying to use unconventional materials in my art making, like collage, sand, thread, etc, to prove there’s no hindrance to creativity, what is important is the idea behind the narratives,” Benitez said in closing.