What’s On Your Mind Series
Malaise. After 2 consecutive political exercises for Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, this seems to be the pervasive state of being for those who are on the opposite sides of the Pacific. We have leaders who are perceived, rightfully or wrongly, to lack compassion and a sense of humanity where human rights are trampled on and yet people are cheering them in the hope that the state of affairs will change for the better. For Edwin Loyola, a resident of the West, but whose heart if firmly grounded in the East, and whose images have always been apolitical, he now takes a jab at the current events and has LITERALLY put into images what's on (IN) his head!
Early this year of 2017, Loyola conceived of a project brought about by "the news, the social media, what he hears, and what he sees, and his perception of these events." And as a photographer, visual language was his closest ally. He wanted to create a whole collection of 150 images that will show how he feels about daily life. He wants his thoughts to literally pop out of "his" head and convey them to the viewer. Much like the bubble thoughts in animations, except the words are literally "inside" his head.
But how does one create a whole image from a word? Loyola has put into action what Swiss-American photographer Robert Frank once said, "There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment. This kind of photography is realism. But realism is not enough - there has to be vision, and the two together can make a good photograph."
With the use of words, Loyola tells the world his own perception of the of the current climes. Image wise, there is a pervasive gruesome quality to the photograph. They look like mutilated skulls that have been dismembered or the Grim Reaper sans his sickle. The undescernable textures can look like newspapers thrown over the corpse, very much like what they do in the Philippines in order for the public not to see the victim. And just like the newspapers that have been thrown over the corpse, bold words can be seen from the headlines. Initially, one would think these words are all adversarial, antagonistic even belligerent. Words like Anger, Shame, Death, Suicide, Agony, and so many others. All referrring to a negative state of being. But upon careful perusal of the 50 or so he has created so far, he has more inspiring thoughts to share. Freedom. Happiness. Justice. Hope. Life..."What's On My Mind," makes real to its viewers Loyola's desires and dreams for all his loved ones despite the times.
Done much like a collage, these images go through a very rigorous digital process. Inspiration normally comes to Loyola on his drive home from work. Words flash before him on the freeway. Once home, he prints these words, puts them inside the glass skull then photography and digital manipulation takes place. The power of the image does not come only from its visual effects, but the words that are highlighted in the image. Some are guideposts to a productive, peaceful, positive life, while some are reminders and lessons, albeit painful ones, of how we are living our lives right now. It is the current state of our humanity, this is our realism today. But given the postive reminders, that is Loyola's vision for all, it is what Robert Frank calls a "good photograph." But yet again, he has 100 more to go! The insipation can swing either way.
At this point this is our humanity. This is what we have subscribed to as a people. - by Willy Marbella
