Works by Nico Fertakis. Archival printing on acid-free paper, signed by artist on back of poster. Courtesy of Metro Micro Gallery..
Artist Talk: Sunday, March 25 from 1pm to 3pm
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On view 24/7: March 1 – April 7, 2018
Metro Micro Gallery is pleased to present HALO-HALO, an exhibition of new works by Nico Fertakis.
The exhibition’s title, HALO-HALO, refers to a popular dessert in the Philippines and means “mix-mix” or “mixed together” in the Filipino dialect, Tagalog. Fertakis creates prints that merge the use of color, the forms of Venn diagrams, and American idioms to explore ideas of diversity and inclusion in a very unique and personal way as a FIlipino-Greek-American.
In her show, Fertakis offers Venn diagrams as a visualization of different cultural identities – Filipino and American – to show how they can create a blended one. Below the Venn diagrams, Fertakis incorporates text that modify American expressions featuring food to resonate with a fruit or dish that she had eaten in her youth and/or is popular in the Philippines. For instance, the American idiom “a piece of cake” becomes “a piece of mango.” The colors of the Venn diagrams allude to the Filipino fruit or dish she identifies in the expression noted.
“Growing up with Filipino food,” Fertakis shares, “I didn’t realize that my friends did not eat slices of ripe mango with shrimp paste for dessert. I loved it and still do to this day. Expressions like as American as apple pie didn’t make sense to me. My prints and adapted expressions convey what it means to me to be Filipino-American. I hope that whoever sees them either smiles because they are familiar with the Filipino food or becomes curious to find out what it is and tastes like.”
Curator Barbara Januszkiewicz observes that “Fertakis employs a simplicity of form while demonstrating incredible creative sophistication in her work. Here we witness the artist’s keen awareness of color, shape and design to convey her personal experience being the child of an immigrant Filipino mother growing up in the United States. The colors – some bold, some muted – are overlapping and coalesce into a new color. There is no distinction at this intersection of the colors, circles and idioms; they are one in the same. Fertakis is suggesting that what is American can also be Filipino, and what is Filipino can also be American. Through these elements and the relationship that Venn diagrams communicate, Fertakis makes the seemingly uncommon, familiar.”
About Metro Mirco Gallery:
Metro Micro Gallery is committed in creating opportunities that will inspire more creative collaborations and enrich our community. It is an experimental gallery that encourages creative collaborations and a respect for diversity through inclusive, non-conventional exhibits and showcases. A small space with big mission, the Metro Micro Gallery offers exhibits and programs to strengthen and sustain our community. Barbara Januszkiewicz is the Metro Micro Gallery’s founder and sponsor. This is part of the outreach of her studio practice that includes mentorships within the creative community. Guest curators are invited to help with this effort in supporting public awareness for visual art practitioners. Pay it forward.
Metro Micro Gallery is located at 3409 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA. For more information, visit www.metromicrogallery.com.
