December 9, 2024. A veritable who’s who in Philippine art and art lovers came to the opening of Luis “Junyee” Yee, Jr.’s exhibition in the Altro Mondo Creative Space Gallery. It was the second installment of Altro Mondo’s ICONS* Series as Junyee is indeed an Icon, a visionary Filipino artist who pioneered the creation of works of art from indigenous materials, using nature as his “canvas”– wood and indigenous materials as his source of inspiration to create art, to showcase what the world’s natural resources can offer and be of value long before ecology and environment concerns came to the fore.
of MAN and NATURE is a new exhibit of Junyee’s works. As the theme of the exhibit expresses, the relationship between humans and the natural world could be seen and felt in every work of art… All thanks to the artist’s mastery of wood (and its byproducts like soot) and other organic materials. His reverence for what nature and the environment can give humans was on exhibit for viewers to once again feel an intimate connection with what the earth can offer.
Here are just some of the works of art on display:
The works in the exhibit aesthetically convey our interconnectedness with nature. Walking along, taking in each piece of work, lovingly created out of wood and its by-products, awakens a reverence for what nature can give us humans. It inspires us to never take for granted, use, or misuse what the natural world has to nourish and sustain us.
His use of reclaimed or locally sourced wood blended with other organic materials creatively transformed into sculptures and forms, communicates the beauty of nature, something we should never take for granted, something we should appreciate and treasure.
Some of the artworks on display did use materials like microchips and computer parts, seeds and nuts, but more to bring nature and technology in close contact in an integrated way. 
Some guests and viewers, taking in the evening of art and our connection with nature’s blessings:
What does Junyee’s of MAN and NATURE exhibit want to convey?
To quote from the gallery’s write-up about the intention behind Junyee’s of MAN and NATURE, “At the heart of the exhibit lies a compelling call to action: to honor, protect, and nurture the environment. Through his art, Junyee challenges us to reflect on our role in the planet’s ongoing narrative, urging a deeper appreciation of the connections that bind humanity to the earth and to one another.”
In The Creative Legacy of Junyee write-up of Riel Jaramillo Hilario, the author wrote, “This keenness to work with organic elements, upcycled refuse of the plant world, or the opportunities presented by the environment set Junyee apart from the rest. No one paid attention to the ravages of global warming 40 years ago. And yet Junyee, on his own, pursued this direction.” (Source: In Conversation With Junyee: The Father Of Installation Art In The Philippines by Franz Sorilla IV, August 13, 2021) https://altromondo.com.ph/in-conversation-with-junyee-the-father-of-installation-art-in-the-philippines/
To be inspired by what nature and art can offer and give us humans. Art painstakingly and lovingly created by no less than a master. An artist who, through the decades, stayed true and consistent to everything that the natural world gives us as nourishment, sustenance and support…
It was indeed, an honor to have been invited to the opening of the fifth solo exhibit of Junyee.
Junyee’s solo exhibit, of MAN and NATURE opened December 7 and will run until January 11, 2025. Altro Mondo Creative Space 1159 Chino Roces Avenue, San Antonio Village, Makati City.
Photos by photographer Richie Macapinlac. Source Facebook.
*The ICONS series is an annual exhibition that showcases the work of prominent local artists who have made significant contributions to the art community and to the development of Contemporary Philippine Art. The series was inaugurated last year with “Series 8: The Muses”, a solo exhibit of eight stainless steel and copper wall-bound sculptures by National Artist for Visual Arts, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera. His involvement marked a prestigious opening for the series.