Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat is an exhibition by three Visayan artists: PG Zoluaga, Javy Villacin, and Raymund Fernandez at UPV MACH.

This exhibition by three veteran Visayan artists from as many islands of the Visayas expresses the cultural insights and artistic visions reflective of the Bisaya collective of island cultures. 

Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat addresses a conumdrum that confounds Bisaya cultural identity: How do we make sense of the divergences we see in the artistic productions of Visayan artist without losing sight of elements thaty hold them together? Can we be one without losing our freedom to be different?

PG Zoluaga

PG Zoluaga (b. 1958) resides in Iloilo City. He was recently part of the group show Kasikas, the Visayas Exhibition of Bagong Biswal 2023 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) committee on Visual Arts at the University of the Philippines Visayas Gallery in Iloilo City Campus.

Also see the PG Zoluaga Compendium 

Zoluaga was also part of the group show Kawsa of the Agurang Artist Group of Iloilo City, mounted at Puluy-an Art Gallery, and the most recent show he was part of was a Tribute Art Exhibition to Honor Prof. Javy Villacin at the UP College of Fine Arts, Cebu Campus, held July 7, 2023.

Javy Villacin

Javy Villacin (b. 1957) has roots in Capiz but now resides in Cebu where he has a studio in the hills of Sibonga, South from Cebu City. His most recent show was Itum na Ido at Qube Gallery, June 6, 2023.

He is a retired professor of Fine Arts Program of the UP Cebu.

Raymund L. Fernandez

Raymund L. Fernandez (b. 1955) divides his time between Cebu City and Baclayon, Bohol, where ha has a sculpture studio. His latest show of sculpture, Koantum Balud, opened May 9, 2023 at Qube Gallery. He has retired from teaching at UP Cebu and he devotes his time carving wood while enjoying life with his family. 

The three artists in Pikas sa Usa ka Dagat are Baby Boomers. They grew up in the aftermath of the Second World War, lived through the Cold War, and were acquianted with the anti-establishment cultural phenomenon, share a common tendency for material and conceptual exploration. All, too, love music.

They have been friends for several decades and have strengthened their mutual bonds by their constant  involvement with the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (VIVA ExCon), the longest biennial in the Philippines. They are among the pioneers (older stalwarts) of the exhibit-conference. All move with ease from painting, sculpture, and performance.

The show presents an opportunity for comparisons by way of identifying not only differences, but also commonalities among the three. 

And because they come from different islands in the Visayas, this show is another specimen of Bisayan art that is meant to stir conversations on what the term may really mean, or if such concept actually exists.