“Isang Hagod” Exhibit Opens at Vienna’s Steiner Gallery, Showcasing the Emotional Depth of Filipino Art

Steiner Gallery in Vienna has unveiled its latest exhibit, “Isang Hagod,” an exploration of emotions through the lens of Filipino artistry. This unique exhibit celebrates the ways that emotions are conveyed through art, highlighting the powerful connection between the artist’s hand and their audience.

In the context of art, the Filipino phrase “Isang Hagod“ can be translated as “one stroke” or “a single stroke.” It refers to the motion or gesture of an artist’s hand as they apply a brushstroke, line, or mark on a canvas or medium. In a broader artistic sense, isang hagod symbolizes the skill, intention, and emotion in that singular action.

Each stroke conveys a range of emotions or ideas, and the phrase emphasizes the expressive power that can be contained in even the simplest of movements. It suggests the idea that with just one stroke, an artist can communicate depth, evoke feelings, and share their personal experience with the audience.

In relation to an art exhibit like “Isang Hagod,” the term metaphorically celebrates how emotions, stories, and meanings can be conveyed through deliberate, powerful artistic gestures—how even one stroke can be filled with meaning and emotion.

Related read : Isang Guhit : One Exhibition, Multiple Stories

A collaborative effort between Vienna’s sige! art network and Manila’s Bastedor Art Project, this exhibit marks yet another cultural bridge between Austria and the Philippines. By showcasing five Filipino artists, the event not only introduces a wider audience to the richness of Philippine art but also deepens the ongoing partnership between these creative communities.

Exhibiting Artists

The featured artists—Norlie Meimban, Charmaine Taus, Ela Andal, Ejem Alarcon, and Harold Khan—bring diverse styles and subjects to the exhibit, yet each piece shares a common goal: to evoke a visceral emotional response.

Norlie Meimban, known for his distinctive style, is a master of intricate layering and dynamic compositions that invite viewers into a world where movement and emotion are at the forefront. His works often feature a fascinating interplay of textures and colors, with each layer adding depth and complexity. This technique creates a sense of fluidity and motion, as though the elements in his art are in a constant state of transition.

Meimban’s exploration of motion and intensity goes beyond the physical act of movement; it delves into the emotional and psychological states of his subjects. His pieces often depict moments of heightened emotion—whether it’s the rush of energy in a chaotic scene or the quiet stillness of reflection. Through his deliberate use of light and shadow, combined with a keen sense of rhythm in his compositions, Meimban is able to evoke both the turbulence and tranquility of human experience in his portraits.

In his art, the viewer is often confronted with the placing of calm and chaos, representing the duality of emotions that humans navigate in their daily lives. Whether portraying a figure in motion, or an abstract swirl of energy, his work compels the audience to feel the push and pull of life’s emotional currents. His intricate approach to layering makes each piece an evolving experience, where repeated viewings reveal new details, hidden forms, and deeper emotional resonance. Read more about Norlie here.

Charmaine Taus creates evocative and deeply emotional artworks that highlight the intricate lining between vulnerability and strength. Her pieces often explore the complexities of human emotion, portraying her subjects at pivotal moments where fragility and resilience intersect. This delicate balance is a central theme in her work, revealing the beauty and power found in moments of openness and emotional exposure.

Taus frequently uses vibrant colors to amplify the emotional depth of her art, with hues that reflect the inner landscapes of her subjects. Bold, saturated tones might represent intense feelings of joy, passion, or anger, while softer, more muted shades convey sorrow, contemplation, or tenderness. The interplay of these colors emphasizes the emotional highs and lows that define the human experience, with each brushstroke or color choice adding layers of meaning.

Her artistic technique, with its expressive use of color, mirrors the emotional journeys of her subjects, guiding the viewer through moments of introspection and revelation. In her work, vulnerability is not seen as weakness but as an essential part of strength—something to be embraced and celebrated. By portraying this complex emotional spectrum, Taus encourages viewers to reflect on their own vulnerabilities, and the resilience that emerges from those experiences, making her art deeply relatable and impactful.

Her compositions, often rich with symbolic elements and nuanced facial expressions, invite viewers into an intimate dialogue with the subjects of her paintings. Each piece feels like a snapshot of an emotional moment suspended in time, allowing viewers to connect with the profound psychological and emotional truths embedded in her art.

Ela Andal is an artist renowned for her unique ability to seamlessly blend abstract and figurative elements into lively, eye-catching works of Pop Surrealism. Her art is a bold and imaginative fusion of high and low cultural references, often combining recognizable figures with abstract, colorful backdrops that offer a commentary on contemporary life. Andal’s work is heavily influenced by the aesthetics of graffiti and lowbrow art, drawing on the raw, energetic styles of street culture while infusing her pieces with a polished, dreamlike quality that invites deeper reflection.

One of Andal’s signature techniques is her use of a main iconic image—such as Mona Lisa, Queen Elizabeth, or Frida Kahlo (as seen in her photo) or other historically significant figures—positioned as the central focus of the composition. These iconic figures are portrayed with a mix of reverence and playfulness, often reimagined in unexpected, whimsical ways that challenge the viewer’s perception of their traditional significance. For example, Andal might rework the stoic Mona Lisa with bold new colors, exaggerated features, or an ethereal glow, adding a surreal twist to a familiar image.

Surrounding these central figures, Andal often incorporates splashes of abstract imagery, peppy colors, and intricate details that fill the background, creating a sense of movement and energy. Her backdrops are typically filled with positive words, cultural symbols, and social icons, ranging from motivational phrases to references to pop culture, social justice movements, or Filipino heritage. The words and symbols are often painted in graffiti-like styles, further emphasizing the influence of street art in her work. These elements create a layered narrative around the central figure, transforming the artwork into a lively collage of ideas and emotions that reflect contemporary social dynamics.

Andal’s work is not just visually striking but also thematically rich. The use of historical or classical figures with modern-day symbols and phrases invites viewers to reconsider the roles these icons play in today’s society. By merging the past with the present, and infusing it with bright colors and positive messaging, she creates a conversation between the timeless and the contemporary. Her art becomes a celebration of resilience, culture, and identity, using well-known figures as vessels for new, empowering interpretations.

Through her use of Pop Surrealism, Ela Andal’s art bridges the gap between the familiar and the fantastical, encouraging viewers to find new meaning in images they thought they knew, while being inspired by the uplifting, symbolic layers that frame her compositions.

Viewers are often encouraged to project their own experiences, desires, or wants onto her work, creating a profound connection between the art and the audience. In doing so, Ela Andal offers a visual experience that is both intimate and expansive, where every viewer is invited to find their own emotional connections within the imagery she presents.

Ejem Alarcon, a celebrated artist in the lowbrow art movement, brings a distinctive approach to his work by fusing elements of Filipino heritage, anime/cartoons/movie culture, contemporary icons, and his personal love of dogs. Known for his ability to merge these diverse themes into cohesive, visually striking compositions, Alarcon creates art that is both playful and thought-provoking, rooted in pop culture while also paying homage to his cultural roots.

Lowbrow art, which traditionally combines high and low cultural references in an accessible, often humorous way, is the perfect platform for Alarcon’s eclectic style. His works often depict anime-inspired characters or motifs, blending the aesthetics of animation—such as exaggerated expressions, bright colors, and fantastical settings—with Filipino cultural symbols, history, and mythology. This allows him to present modern, global themes while grounding them in the rich context of his Filipino identity. The result is a visually dynamic fusion that appeals to a wide audience, bridging the gap between Eastern and Western influences, as well as between traditional and modern narratives.

In addition to anime and Filipino cultural references, Alarcon frequently incorporates contemporary icons—from movie characters to global pop culture figures—into his art. These figures are often portrayed in cute or surreal ways, making his work a commentary on modern society’s obsession with fame, consumerism, and the blending of identities in a digital age. Despite the fantastical nature of many of his subjects, Alarcon’s technical skill shines through in his realistic rendering, particularly in the meticulous attention to detail that gives his art a lifelike quality.

One of the most endearing aspects of Alarcon’s work is his frequent depiction of dogs, which he paints with remarkable realism and affection. His love for dogs is evident in the way he captures their expressions, movement, and personalities, often integrating them into fantastical or everyday scenes. These canine figures add a personal touch to his art, humanizing the surreal or pop culture-heavy compositions and creating a sense of warmth and connection.

Through his lowbrow style, Alarcon skillfully weaves together elements of the traditional and the contemporary, the local and the global, using his art to reflect on the world around him while celebrating the things he loves most. His ability to infuse personal passion, such as his love for dogs, into complex thematic compositions makes his work both highly relatable and visually arresting. Read more about Ela and Ejem here.

Harold Khan is known for his bold, expressive style that captures the rawness of human emotion. His works, particularly his portraits of women, bring a sense of grandeur and intensity, as he portrays them as “Reyna” (queens)—elevating everyday moments into representations of strength, grace, and regality. Through his art, Khan emphasizes the inner power of his subjects, presenting them as modern-day queens who embody both resilience and vulnerability.

One of the defining characteristics of Khan’s work is his masterful use of vivid contrasts. He skillfully place light and dark, soft and hard, smooth and rough, creating a dramatic tension in his compositions. These contrasts, whether in color or texture, heighten the emotional intensity of his portraits, making each piece a visual experience that draws the viewer into the emotional world of the subject. Khan’s use of sharp textures—visible in his bold brushstrokes or the way he renders fabric and skin—adds a tactile quality to his paintings, giving them a sense of depth and realism while maintaining a raw, almost visceral energy.

Khan’s women, depicted as “Reyna”, are not just figures of beauty but also symbols of inner strength and emotional complexity. He often captures them in moments of passion and intensity, where their emotions are at their peak, whether it’s joy, defiance, sorrow, or triumph. This portrayal of women as queens transcends the traditional ideals of femininity, celebrating their emotional depth, independence, and power. His subjects exude confidence and command attention, yet they also reflect the intricate layers of human emotion—fragility interwoven with strength.

In Khan’s work, the title of “Reyna” is not merely a metaphor for royalty but a statement about the inherent dignity and majesty within every woman. His portraits pay homage to both their external presence and their internal battles, highlighting their emotional resilience in a way that feels both personal and universal. By using bold colors, expressive forms, and intense contrasts, Khan creates a visual language that speaks directly to the viewer, offering a tribute to the emotional strength and regal essence of women in all their forms. Read more about Harold’s Reyna series here.

Vernissage

The opening night of “Isang Hagod” at Vienna’s Steiner Gallery was a lively celebration of cultures, bringing together a dynamic mix of people from various artistic and cultural backgrounds. The gallery was filled with art enthusiasts, fellow artists, and members of the Filipino community, along with the invited guests of the featured artists, creating an electric atmosphere that buzzed with excitement and creativity.

The night fostered an engaging exchange of ideas, as conversations flowed between attendees and the artists themselves. Many guests took the opportunity to delve deeper into the themes presented, discussing the fusion of traditional Filipino cultural motifs with modern artistic trends.

In addition to appreciating the art, guests shared in the celebration of Filipino identity, history, and emotional expression through the universal language of visual art.

The partnership between sige! and Bastedor Art Project continues to grow, and “Isang Hagod” is a testament to the power of cross-cultural artistic collaboration. Through the emotional depth and creativity of the five featured artists, this exhibit not only highlights the beauty of Filipino art but also highlights the universal language of human emotion expressed through a single stroke.

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