Mervy Pueblo, 27, painter and sculptor who has a leaning on fusing arts and science. She excels on both but does not limit herself to one medium or discipline.
Pueblo’s fascination with science produced her notable works titled 'Fertile Breeding Ground 1 and 2' and 'Virus Attitude' where she exhibited “soft sculptures.” The soft sculptures were made from different types of fabrics stuffed with cotton and other soft or spongy materials. She tirelessly stitched them together unmindful of the monotony of the process.
Pueblo admits that “sculpture [by itself] is not very popular to many art patrons.” This, she says, maybe because, “most could’ve felt the impersonal connection of the sculptors to their piece in varying medium compared to painters to their canvases.” Even if this maybe true, Pueblo excels in the discipline and now strongly advocates soft sculpture.
She encourages art enthusiasts, or even ordinary people, to attend art gatherings and interact with the artists. “Talk to the sculptors. Feel free to ask us questions like how we carve, build, and cast our works, our inspirations, feelings and the challenges on each work and we would gladly accommodate your interest to our vocation,” she says.
Pueblo holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication degree from St. Scholastica’s College Manila. She first worked in an advertising agency but was dismayed by the restrictions imposed by the nature of the work. She deems an artist who cannot practice her artistic freedom is somewhat abominable thus, so she decided to follow her heart and go fulltime as an artist. Pueblo is also a freelance art director and graphic design specialist.
She was supposed to choose the medical field like most members of her family but the calling of the arts was so strong that she made a compromise with her father. “He gave his approval as long as I study in St. Scholastica or any exclusive girls’ school,” she relates lightheartedly.
In “Beyond Identification,” the inaugural exhibit of her works at the National Commission for Culture and Arts Gallery, Pueblo displayed her interest in science, particularly bloodstain spatter analysis (BPA), where she covered a large part of the gallery with sewn floating “blood spatters.”
“I didn’t mean to apply a shock factor,” she explains, “I just wanted to make people think, realize, and appreciate that art and science can mix. I want them to have a clinical feeling of the arts. I want to inspire people especially women that there are different art forms that we can do and do with all our best,” she says, adding, “I just want people to realize that when it comes to art there are no boundaries.”
Bloodstain spatter analysis is used in the field of forensic medicine where investigators study and preserve “blood” data in a crime scene. This process may identify a pattern or the position of the victim who shed blood when the crime was committed.
While Pueblo is getting more attention in this “unconventional” art form, she is also into sculpting other “hard” materials such as glass, granite, precious stones, and wood. In 2006, she created Black Mutation, which was made of constructed fabric, wood, and glass. She also carved The Gubu Dream in Vietnam in 2007.
She was a finalist for three consecutive years, from 2007 to 2009, in Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence (MADE), National Sculpture Competition. In 2006, she won a special citation from MADE in the same category.
Pueblo has participated in international exhibitions such as the 20th International Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture 2009, Terminal 930, Miyazaki Airport Japan in 2009, 1st International Stone Sculpture Symposium-Penza, Russia 2008, 1st Mt. Taebaek International Snow Sculpting Exhibition 2008 in Taebaek City, Gangwon-do, Korea, 1st International Stone Sculpture Symposium Hai Phong Creation Camp 2007 Hai Phong Province, Vietnam, and Korea Art Festival 2005, Group Show Exhibition Seoul Art Center.
She did onsite sculpting in many of these countries.
“I can best describe my works as experiential,” Pueblo explains, “They are the extension of my soul.” Thus, Pueblo somehow reveals her inner self through her pieces.
"Beyond Identification" also featured the works of Pueblo's husband, Noell El Farol.
Manila Times, March 12, 2010
Photos used with permission from Mervy Pueblo
