There is probably no direct translation to the phrase “tahan na,” uttered by a parent to an upset child or by a lover to his troubled beloved, that captures the nuances of emotional comforting intended with it.
Tahan na is an urging to trust that things are going to be better, and so, it is therefore ok to let go of fear, anxiety, worry, anger, grudges, and all the injuries caused by a hard world or a hard life, even for that moment.
In Filipino, home is “tahanan”, a safe place to find comfort and peace, a place to let go of everything that bothers us; or at least, that is what the etymology of the word implies.
These past few months have been very trying. Anxieties of an unseen sickness that took over the world; worries about employment and financial security; and the myriad disappointments we had to face as Filipinos and as human beings, all took an emotional toll on us.
Harold Gomez’ “TAHANAN” hits the mark.
For his fourth solo exhibition, Gomez presents different characters – children playing, a young man on a skateboard, a clown, a basketball player, among others; rendered in a bright and high contrast palette of cyans, pinks, yellows and oranges, contrasted against earth tones of grays, browns and olive green. Almost all the figures are in a state of contemplative or dreamy action – on a swing, communing with nature, skating on a clear road. All of them have a house instead of a head. Gomez’ implication of a simple life of security hits the mark during this pandemic, when we realize, upon being forced to stay at home, that many of the things we used to do, we can forgo. And that to be happy in life, we only need a few things, among them, a safe place we can let go and find solace.
For inquiries, pls contact:
Mitch Barasan 09778398971 or
you may Email us at galeriefrancesca.mega@gmail.com
Or www.galeriefrancesca.com
