Winners exhibit artwork

By Dhen Generalao

A closer look of the winning artwork by Jesus Codeniera. Photo by Ryan Seismundo

Award-winning paintings of Fine Arts students were given recognition in the unveiling of their artworks in the JOYA exhibit at the Cebu Cultural Center (CCC) last September 23.

JOYA exhibit showcases winning and non-winning entries of all level of Fine arts students in the previous JOYA competition.

The annual competition dates back to 1976 and was named after the late national artist Jose Joya, who opened one of the first Fine Arts program in the Visayas.

The competition is set on February being celebrated as the “Arts Month”.  It is open to interested fine arts students who are willing to show their talents in painting with the no theme concept.

“Since JOYA competition has no theme at all, we are focusing the criteria for judging in the X-factor of their products,” said fine arts faculty Jose Villacin.

Winners of last year’s competition 1^st placer Sebastian Penayes II with his work “Fairytale”, 2^nd placer Jesus Codeniera with his work “Sympathy for the Callous”, and 3^rd placer Gian Angelo Arcaya with his work “Intimacy” displayed their winning pieces.

Arcaya describes his art work made from henna and leather titled Intimacy with a sensual artwork representing the intimacy between a man and a woman.

“After joining many JOYA contests, I thought that it was my last exhibit so I wished to make a sexual work but since the art center sets rule that artists should not make nude works, my piece was limited,” said Arcaya

According to Arcaya not having any theme gives artists the challenge in conceptualizing their work.