INTERVIEW

Why do you take and create images?

I like capturing things that appeal to me, and going back to them to remind myself of the feeling I felt at that instant, even if I do not initially understand why I was drawn to it at that moment.

How do you define your photographic/artistic body of work? What subjects do you often explore in your work?

The simplest answer to that would be as a visual diary, as I’m quite forgetful－so much so that a lot of images get buried in the photo library, which I forget to get back to. Almost anything and everything－shadows, patterns, people, shapes.

What motivates your work?

My work is reactionary and instinctive, so it’s a natural response to whatever I perceive to be as stimuli.

What relationship does your work have with reality?

I guess it speaks mostly about my own reality and existence.

For you, what is the purpose of art?

Art gives my life meaning, so what to do? LOL!

How do you want the public to respond to your work? Do you have a particular audience in mind?

Any reaction would be ok; and no, the audience does not figure in the creative process.

What is your training? Were you trained as a photographer?

I finished dentistry in school but I never liked it, nor practiced. No, which is maybe why I like to use the cellphone camera.

How do you define your actual professional situation? What are your expectations?

I am a full-time visual artist just getting by, with no expectations－I just want to be able to live and not merely survive.

It’s hard to live off art. Does this affect you and your work?

Sometimes it does get difficult especially when it’s money-related stress (which is the toughest for me to handle) and you have to pay bills and rent. It also is a challenge to produce work, which is why I have a lot of unproduced photos. What I do is shift mediums to that which would allow me to create at that moment with what I have available that I don’t need to buy.

Have you worked with gallerists, curators, institutions and other art professionals? Can you discuss more about this particular relationship?

Yes, I have worked with all of the above, but I’ve actually been getting disillusioned with the gallery scene, given the high percentage cuts which makes it more difficult to live. Another thing is the question of transparency and honesty with some gallery owners.

Curators I like, as I get an insight into my own work, and in the process makes me understand why I do what I do.

In your opinion, what is the current state of contemporary photography in the Philippines?

There still isn’t a big appreciation for works on paper in the Philippines, and more so for photography.

How do you want contemporary photography to develop in the Philippines?

I would like for it to be at par with the other mediums like paintings on canvas and not be perceived as a lesser art form.

 

---

CV

Name: Jun-Jun Catral Sta.Ana

Location: Lives and works in Manila, Philippines

Email: junjunfineart@gmail.com

Website: artmajeur.com/junjunsa

Education:

Degree in Dentistry

 

Awards and Recognition:

Shortlisted: Chicago Transit Authority Public Art Competition for the Fullerton Station of The Brown Line Train 2008

Shortlisted: 1st Ateneo Contemporary Art Awards 2003

“Identity & Perception”.  Artist’s Talk, Oct 12, 2012. Asian American/Asian Research Institute of CUNY, New York.

ABungalow Artist Residency through Kapitana Gallery, Talisay City, Negros Occidental

Avellana Art Gallery Tower 4 Artist Residency, SIlay City, Negros Occidental 2011

 

One-Person Exhibitions:

2018: “Sweet Decay”. Kapitana Gallery, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

2017: “Monologue”. The Drawing Room Gallery, Makati City, Philippines

2016: “HAGIOGRAPHY”. Art Informal Gallery, Greenhills, Manila, Philippines

2013:  “Autobiography”. NOVA Gallery, Makati City, Philippines

2011: “IDentity 1”. Negros Museum of Art, Bacolod City, Philippines

2011: “IDentity 2”. Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2010: “Bulong From Within: Motifs, Invocations and Incantations”. Center On Halsted, Chicago, IL. USA

2006: “Lar(a)uan”: Unconventional Portrait Show. Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2005: “Recent Works On Plastic”. Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2005: “Untitled”. Eastwind Bookstore,Westwood, CA, USA

2004: “Untitled”. “O” Gallery, Silverlake, California, USA

2003: “Bulong: Morphed Anatomy & Incantation” Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

 

 

Group Exhibitions:

2018: “TIRADA: 50 Years of Philippine Printmaking”. Cultural Center of the Philippines

2017: “Nature/ Nurture”. Association of PinoyPrintmakers. Cultural Center of the Philippines

2017: “Pineapple Lab x Team Mag Pop-Up”. Pineapple Lab, Makati City, Philippines

2016: “Papers and Layers”. Association of Pinoyprintmakers, The Cultural Center of the Phillipines.

2016: “Perya”. Vargas Museum, University of the Philippines

2016: “Base Camp Maximus X Tin-aw”. Mandaluyong City, Philippines

2016: “Pride Night”. Pineapple Lab, Makati City, Philippines

2015: “AND”. The University of Tennesee, Knoxville; The University of Wisconsin, Madison;

2015: “AND”. The University of Iowa, USA

2015: “CHROMATEXT REBOOTED”. The Cultural Center of the Philippines

2015: “Territories”. The Cultural Center of the Philippines

2015: “Time Lapse”. Tin-Aw Gallery, Makati City, Philippines

2015: “FOUND”. (2-Person show). The Cultural Center of the Philippines.

2015: “SCRATCHED”. Kapitana Gallery, Talisay City, Negros Occ., Philippines

2014: “Kandinsky”. J. Studio, Veterans Center, Taguig City, Philippines

2014: Philippine Association of Printmakers’ Group Show. German Center, Makati City

2014: “Not Yet Titled”. Art Informal Gallery, Greenhills, Philippines

2014: “Mix Hang”. Drawing Room Gallery, Singapore

2013: “North Light”. BenCab Museum, Baguio City, Philippines

2012: “Positive Reinforcement”. Peanut Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA

2012: “New Media Festival”. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, LA, CA, USA

2012: “Mail Art”. 1951 Café, Manila Philippines

2012: “Genesis 2013”. Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA

2012: “Chicago Artists’ Month Group Show”. Frankenstone Art Center, Chicago, IL. USA

2011: “iImage: The Uncommon Portrait”. Portsmouth Museum of Art, NH, USA

2011: “Coming Together in Skokie”. Skokie Public Library, Skokie, IL. USA

2011: “The Drawing Show”. Avellana Art Gallery, Philippines

2011: “New & Improved 3”. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA USA

2011: “2011 Self-Portrait Exhibition”. 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA

2011: “Regalo”. Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2010: “Art Cabinet Group Show”. Picasso Residences Makati, Philippines

2010: “In Bloom”. Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL USA

2010: “2010 Chicago Art Open”. River East Art Center, Chicago, IL USA

2010: “New American Landscape”. Los Manos Gallery, Chicago, IL USA (Group show of featured artists in New American Landscape book).

2010: “Curator’s Choice Part 2”. Coalition Gallery, Chicago, IL USA

2010: “The Filipino as Artist in Chicago”. Philippine Consulate Chicago, IL. USA

2010: “Concatenation”. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, CA USA

2010: “Mail Art”. Capitana Gallery, Talisay City, Negros Occidental,  Philippines

2010: “Resilience”. Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL. USA

2009: “Flow Magazine Featured Artists Show”. Silverlens Gallery, Makati City, Philippines

2009: “Asian Inspiration”. Little Black Pearl Art Center, Chicago, IL. USA

2009: “Avellana Art Gallery Anniversary Show”.Pasay City, Philippines

2009: “21 In A Million Part 2”. River East Arts Center, Chicago, IL. USA

2009: “Cut & Paste”, (3-Person Show). Coalition Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA

2009: “New & Improved 2”. L.A. Center For Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA, USA

2009: “Viewpoint”. Center On Halsted, Chicago, IL. USA

2008: “Connected Unconscious”. Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York, USA

2008: “Illuminators”. Koltsovo Airport, Yekaterinburg, Russia

2008: “New & Improved”. LA Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, California, USA

2008: “Chicago Art Open 2008”. Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL, USA

2008: “8 FACES”. Avellana Art Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2008: “Liturgical & Sacred Art Exhibition 2008”. Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL

2008: “8x8x8”. Avellana Art Gallery,Pasay City, Philippines

2008: “BEHIV Emerging Energy”. The Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL. USA

2008: “DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival”. Brooklyn Art Project, New York USA

2008: “Returns”. Get Knifed Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA

2007: Art Futura 2007: “Innovation”. Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL USA

2007: “Containment”. Art Gecko, LTD., Oak Park, IL, USA

2006: “Passion & Fusion”. a-11 Gallery, Pasay City, Philippines

2005: “Wahana Project Exhibition”. Vargas Museum, University Of The Philippines

2005: “Top 40”. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art

2005: “L.A. Art Fest 2005”. Los Angeles, CA, USA

2005: Untitled. Rosetta Stone Gallery. Los Feliz, CA, USA

2003: “Black & White”. Intercontinental Hotel, Makati, Philippines

 

Publications, Interviews and Features:

The Henry Hotel

Team Mag Issue 7. 2017. Page 78 and 79.

The Business Mirror Newspaper feature on the artist, July 26, 2016, Life Section.

The Standard Newspaper

CCP group exhibition “Papers and Layers”. Association of PinoyPrintmakers.

CCP Tumblr on 2-person “Found” Show.

Design Anthology (Hong Kong), Issue No. 6, 2015, pages 87 & 89.

Elle Decoration Magazine 2015, with A-11 Gallery

Style Narratives

City University of New York CUNY Forum, Fall 2013 Issue. Pages XIV, 25, 95 & 105.

Contemporary Art Philippines Magazine feature on “North Light” exhibition at the BenCab Museum. October Issue, 2013.

Heygarch.com Show Review

The Manila Standard. Feature on Artist. August 11, 2013.

Chuvaness.com

Philippine Star Newspaper

DNAinfo.com- Fat Rice Restaurant, Chicago, IL.

T(OUR) Magazine, January 2013 Issue, Feature on Chicago Portrait Series.

Chicago Artists’ Month 2012

Philippine American Writers and Artists Blog

Blackout Magazine Feature, Oct 2012

GMA NEWS

Thefilam.net

Museé Magazine 2012, Issue No. 3, Page 205

Adanna Journal, Issue 2, 2012- Book Cover Art.

“Eve Asks”. Poetry by Christine Redman- Waldeyer, Book Cover Art.

Brooklyn Art Project Quarterly # 1

Negros Museum Announcement

TAYO Literary Magazine Issue Three 2011

Malaya Newspaper. Dec. 16, 2011 Issue, Living Section. Page D-2

The Philippine Star Newspaper. November 28, 2011 Issue, Lifestyle Section. Page K-2

Chicago Artist Database

7^Th Annual National Self Portrait Exhibition Catalogue 2011

Art in the Park

Fosters Daily Democrat

TAYO Magazine – Issue two/ 2010