Mugna Gallery presents “The Well’s Ladder Method,” a durational, performative exhibition with a four-part production phase to explore “the method” that visual artists Deadlocks and Totem Yap Saa have been experimenting on and developing.
More than a mere exhibition, the entire duration is a process — both controlled and unthethered — taking off their previous project “Intentionality.”
A marked shift from “Intentionality” is having part of the process visible for a limited time; as opposed to the previous where the audience is only able to see the final product.
Speaking of time, it is one of the core components of “the method” — time allotted is limited so that one does not reach an “intention.” The method finds that when one spends a prolonged time painting, then the work becomes subjected to the creator’s will.
Deadlocks and Totem hypothesize that a being’s mental state directed towards a specific object or action (i.e. painting) dictates the quality of that state: the intention. In this iteration of the project, they expand the scope and involve a bigger number of participants. Akin to a conductor, they harness the collective energies of Dumaguete artists, as well as other kindred spirits, for this collaboration.
In an age of uncertainty and post-truth, Deadlocks and Totem Yap Saa dissect what it means to be, by exploring not being; knowing what something is, by knowing what it is not — an experience that hones in on and investigates what it means (and perhaps, takes) to make art.
by Koki Lxx
Deadlocks (b.1989) is a self-taught artist, deeply influenced by the fascinating world of science, alongside his strong upbringing in the church. The artists’ works are seeds of experimentations, attempts at solving different visual hypothesis, somehow a venture to unravel the mysteries of life.
Totem Yap Saa (b.1981) has exhibited a diverse body of work that reflects a deep commitment to creative expression. Notably, his recent exhibitions, “Intention” at Shelter in Dumaguete City, “Manifest” at Mugna Gallery in Valencia, and “A New Earth” at Kalawakan Spacetime in Quezon City, all showcased an introspective exploration of his artistic vision. Additionally, Totem has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in the Philippines and abroad. His artistic portfolio is characterized by its ability to communicate a distinctive perspective within the contemporary art landscape.
