"THE UPPER ROOM"

In Jason Montinola’s third solo exhibit, the artist takes us beyond his thoughts to his “Upper Room”—a  place where he conceives his opinions and ideas. Inside this secluded space, situated atop a seemingly endless maze of doors and stairs, the artist works, sleeps, eats, drinks, and breathes with his art. This is a place where the grey-green walls and floorboards listen intently, and watch every word and every movement the artist and his visitors make.

Taking a more personalized approach than in his previous solo exhibitions, this suite of works enables the viewer to gain a glimpse of the artist’s inner life. In a reference to the Biblical venue of the Lord’s Supper with his apostles, the artist also regards the Upper Room as a place of revelation. It was here that thoughts of betrayal and denial were exposed, and Jesus revealed to the apostles events that would ensue after the supper. However, there is a significant difference between Montinola’s Upper Room, and the Upper Room in the Bible: while revelation in the Biblical Upper Room is complete, in Montinola’s personal Upper Room the artist intentionally prevents all the mysteries of his soul from being fully unravelled, leaving room for further exploration and speculation, both by the artist himself, and by the viewer. Putting emphasis on this difference, the artist plays upon the memorable words of Jesus spoken in the Upper Room, and in a dramatic and ironic reversal says: “This is my body, this is my blood, do not eat or drink.”

  “The Upper Room,” a solo exhibition by Jason Montinola, opens at 6:00 PM on May 17th, 2009, at Tala Gallery, 100 Scout De Guia Street, Quezon City. The exhibit runs through June 7th. For further information, call the gallery at 441-1267 or visit our website: www.talagallery.com.ph