Bakawan 1974

This is a photograph of Roberto Chabet's installation, Bakawan. It kind of reminds me of walking into a memory, a space just beyond reach. The image is black and white, grainy almost. You can see an open doorway, the frame heavy with shadow, leading into a bright gallery space. Inside, dark vertical forms hang suspended, like a forest turned abstract. The wood looks rough, weathered. Each piece seems to have its own texture and shape, its own story etched in its surface. It makes me think of the Japanese Gutai artists, who were all about exploring the potential of materials. Chabet really lets the wood speak for itself, its imperfections and irregularities becoming the focal point. It’s like he's saying that art is about seeing the beauty in the everyday, the extraordinary in the ordinary. It’s a beautiful conversation.