Aron Ray Carandang’s first solo exhibition, Hugis ng Gunita (Shapes of Memories), opens on November 18 at the Adamson Art Gallery, Adamson University Manila.
The show gathers his most defining works that highlight Filipino childhood, family life, and the shared experiences that shape identity. Through a clear, organized Cubist structure and vivid colors, Carandang captures scenes that many Filipinos recognize from their own past, games, outdoor play, and everyday togetherness.
Carandang’s style is best described as Filipino Neo-Cubism with a documentary approach. His compositions rely on geometric forms, rectangles, triangles, and curved planes that fit together to form movement and space. Unlike classical Cubism, his style remains representational. Figures are simplified but readable, actions are familiar, and every element supports the story being told. His use of bold, flat colors such as yellow, turquoise, and magenta reinforces clarity instead of illusion.
Each canvas presents a specific part of Filipino life. Children play piko, tumbang preso, and patintero. Friends share laughter under the sun, families spend time by the sea, and young boys climb bamboo poles or fly kites in the wind. These images are not nostalgic recreations but reminders of how culture lives in motion and connection. Carandang removes faces so that gestures become universal, allowing viewers to see themselves in the scene.
His technique uses clean acrylic application with sharp color divisions, giving every panel a polished and precise finish. Instead of depth or shadow, Carandang builds emotion through arrangement and contrast. The result is a visual rhythm that mirrors the energy of Filipino street life.
The artist explains, ‘My art draws inspiration from the vibrant memories of Filipino childhood and the timeless essence of our everyday lives. I create these works so that both the young and the old may remember and reconnect, to grasp the beauty of the past that often slips away in the fast pace of modern life.’
Born in Tuy, Batangas in 2001, Carandang earned his degree in Human Resource Management at Batangas State University. His passion for art grew during the pandemic, influenced by his father, who is also a painter. He began participating in local exhibitions, later joining international shows such as Face the Race in the United States and Creative Journey at the Philippine Consulate in New York. He is now a resident artist at the Manila Clock Tower Museum.
Carandang also leads community art workshops for children and families affected by natural disasters and those with special needs. His belief that ‘art is a piece of your soul’ reflects both his creative and social purpose, to make art a space of care, memory, and shared experience. Former Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, one of his collectors, once remarked that Carandang’s work represents ‘a new version of HR Ocampo,’ referencing the National Artist known for modern Filipino abstraction.
Hugis ng Gunita (Shapes of Memories) demonstrates how art can preserve culture without turning it into nostalgia. Carandang’s paintings show life as it is remembered, bright, active, and sincere. His work connects generations through images that remain part of Filipino life, serving as a reminder of the value of play, friendship, and the stories that stay with us.
Exhibition Details
Hugis ng Gunita (Shapes of Memories)
1st Solo Art Exhibition by Aron Ray Carandang
Adamson Art Gallery, Adamson University Manila
Opening and Artist’s Reception: November 18, 2025, 3:00 PM