In Bacolod, Aeson Baldevia Opens Fine Art Photography Show

(SPOT.ph) Aeson Baldevia is a photographer whose works are very much influenced by his provenance and experiences. Born and raised in Silay City, Negros Occidental, he tends to value the past more than the ordinary image-maker.

While his pictures have made it to international exhibitions in Switzerland, Belgium, South Korea, and Germany, Aeson first made his name in 2017 after being the lone Filipino artist selected by the Celeste Prize in London as one of its global finalists for excellence in content, contemporary aesthetic, technique, and material. He proudly represented the Philippines in his category with his photograph "Antes Sanda Madura / Before They Are Gone,” a visual homage to the indigenous community of Panay Bukidnon and a documentation of the group’s way of living.

A heart for heritage

This sensitivity to honoring one’s heritage is a common theme in Aeson’s other works, such as “Ato Bala” for Art Fair 2023, Unearthed Series for Fotomoto: HOME 2023, “Whispers of Light: A Homage to Félix Laureano” for Viva EXCON 2023, and Para Sa Pumapasada: A Tribute to the Filipino Jeepney.

“These practices are fading, and I hope it would be documented in a way that’s interesting to the younger generation,” says Aeson, reflecting on how the job of photographers intersects with that of historians. “For me, photographers have a responsibility to document things happening right now,” he adds.

We met Aeson early this year when Spot visited Bacolod and had the privilege of being allowed to shoot Balay Daku, the fantastic Villanueva art deco mansion built in the 1930s. We entrusted Aeson with the photography and he came back to us with such beautifully considered pictures that didn’t only capture the grandiosity of the house but the thoughtfulness of the person who built it. We dare say it’s one of our favorite Weekender stories, if only for Aeson’s images.

Also read: Bacolod's Balay Daku, The Art Deco Jewel of Millionaires' Row

What Close Encounters at Orange Project is about

Recently, the Negrense photographer messaged us to say he is having a solo show at Bacolod’s go-to art space, Orange Project, owned and run by the famed Negrense artist Charlie Co. The place is special to Aeson as it’s the first gallery where he was able to exhibit his work. In 2018, he was part of the group exhibit "Cycles 003" at Orange Project. This July, however, he is showing as a fine art photographer in a show called “Chance Encounters.”

This show was inspired by the oft-repeated question to childless couples: “When are you having a baby?”—which may come from a place of concern but often results in hurting the feelings of those being asked. It’s a question that has been thrown Aeson’s way for sure but in September 2021, his feelings towards it were forever altered: his wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer. A month before they received the fateful news, they were hoping to start a family.

“One thing I learned while doing this exhibition is to empathize,” says Aeson. “Being [an] empath makes you human. Being [an] empath makes you an authentic artist. I see people passing by in front of me, wala ko kabalo diin sila halin, diin sila pakadto. Wala ta kabalo sang gina agyan nila, wala man sila kabalo sang gina agyan ko.” [I see people passing by in front of me. I don’t know where they came from or where they’re going. I don’t know what they’re going through, and they don’t know what I’m going through either.]

In "Chance Encounters," Aeson curates an anthology of authentic human narratives told through multisensory and multimedia storytelling, drawing from his experience as a visual artist spanning over two decades and his lifetime’s worth of experience. He invites visitors to step into the show and leave bringing only with them empathy for the fellow humans they will encounter in the shared space of the gallery.—With reports from Christiana Claudia Gacuma Gancayco.

“Chance Encounters” opens July 5, 2024 and will run until August 15 at Orange Project Gallery, Art District, Bacolod City. It is supported by Fotomoto, Silver, and Hahnemühle.