Moving Mountains

Certainly one of our finest abstractionists is Edwin Wilwayco.

He is notable for his rich colorism, often in monotone, whether it be depicting a still life of pineapple or the imagined color of the wind, or simply expressing the blues. Then ere is that sense of sweeping or languid movement perceptible in every piece.

~ Constantino C. Tejero, Art Critic
Phil. Daily Inquirer, March 2005

Moving Mountains captures Wilwayco's reflective meditations of imaginative landscape, constantly evolving states of visual consciousness composed of densely layered but playful strokes that seems to capture the spirit of a land in the throes of constant change. Comparable in sensibility to the masterpieces of Sung Dynasty calligraphic landscapes, Wilwayco's abstract compositions continues his search for calm within the convulsive energies of the present, a disciplined series of statements on the need to constantly keep up with nature and humanity as both hurdle through epochal changes now being undertaken. Moving Mountains is, of course, also man's age-old aspiration to be more than the sum of his parts, for it is a yearning to touch the divine. The ability to move mountains requires intellect and determination, a marriage of logic and emotion that results in miracles.

This search for human destiny undergoes a series of epic struggles to overcome mankind's frailty, and to earn the right of walking in the Light. Ina series titled Conquering The Shadows, Wilwayco meditates on this struggle between Light and Dark, ignorance and fear versus enlightenment and courage, that in the end must be won by those representing Light if humanity is to enact its own salvation. In another series titled Dialogue With Janus, the dual nature of existence (life versus death, beauty versus horror) is debated with the legendary Roman god of destiny, whose two faces look backward to reflect upon the past, and look ahead to see what the future brings. Between the mists of history, and the decisive steps of the present, the destiny of mankind thus treads on ever shifting ground, dream-walking in a land that assumes recognizable shapes only through the power of one's imagination.

~ Reuben Ramas Canete, Art Critic

Having explored yellow as single-mindedly as he once did the color blue, it comes as no surprise that upon completion Wilwayco said he felt drained; but happy, nevertheless, having traveled again and tested the length, breadth and depth of his art. This is an emptying unknown to us the viewing public, terra incognita to lesser artists. But even to the great ones (and perhaps to their misfortune) art is a mountain to be scaled again and again, its heights unconquerable, the challenge eternal.

But we who stand beside see miracles in what artists leave behind. Thus we hold them in awe. And we are filled with reverence and knowing - Mohamed did not move the mountain. The mountain moved closer to him.

~ Renato L.Santos

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