Songcayawon
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 ~ 4:11 pm 
HIDDEN PLACES | July 24 to August 5, 2008 | SM Megamall
Songcayawon made sure that he found a way to nurture his interest in art. He might not have been formally schooled on the basics, but he had met the best teacher in Malang. Hidden Place is a culmination of this lifelong search to devote and apply his previously untapped talent. On view at West Gallery, SM Megamall, from July 24 through August 5, Hidden Place speaks of Songcayawon’s passions toward art, nature, and faith.
Starting as a driver and man Friday to artist Malang, Songcayawon learned by the sheer living example of his employer. He would use his free time to learn more about painting, often painting after his work hours. Not for long, he was already preparing his own canvases and mixing paints. Songcayawon painted what he felt was close to his heart, including hard-working animals like horses and carabaos on colorful, nearly surreal, landscapes. On Songcayawon’s canvas, too, are trees that look as if they were inspired from another world. They are white and seemingly magical, just as the white horse that inhabits most of Songcayawon’s pieces. Drawing inspiration from the Bible, Songcayawon saw the white horse as the witness to God’s beautiful and bountiful creation.
His deep faith, which kept him painting and productive with ideas over the years, played a major role. From a mere observer whenever Malang would meet with his fellow artists, Songcayawon had stepped out of his boss’s shadow, and had mounted a few exhibits of his own. Songcayawon, who died in June, left behind a number of works he was proud of and happy to share with everyone who loved art. Each work inspired him to create the next one. He was always striving to improve on his craft.