UP Cebu Fine Arts faculty member Asst. Prof. Ivy Marie Apa, a recipient of the prestigious International Artist Residency 2024 grant from Khon Kaen University in Thailand, recently showcased her solo exhibition “Tender Notes: Drawings of the Sacred and the Secular.” The exhibit, a highlight of her residency from August 24 to September 18, 2024, featured an Artist Reception on August 30 at The Treasury Museum in Khon Kaen.
Apa’s work, deeply inspired by philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach’s critique of Christianity, explores the idea that humans project their desires onto the concept of God, making religion a reflection of human qualities. She connects this with Guy Debord’s critique of the “spectacle” in modern society, where human experiences are commodified and mediated through images.
Through her art, Apa interrogates the fetishisms present in visual and textual mediations, shaped by traditions like the Greco-Judeo-Christian legacy. Her work offers commentary on how these traditions influence daily life and the consumption of images, suggesting that modern society replaces sacred beliefs with the commodification of reality.
Apa’s exhibit invites reflection on the intersection of religion, tradition, and the commodification of modern life.
