Jose Johann Bitancor is a visual artist and graphic designer with a degree in (BFA) from Far Eastern University in the Philippines. Prior to his migration to the United States, his creative outputs were devoted entirely to the Applied Arts, particularly Exhibition Design and Collateral Design. He pursued a short stint at the University of Memphis and attended Art Studio Course (Abstract) in Stanford University. He also managed to receive a Portfolio Merit Scholarship (BFA) from the Memphis College of Art in United States.
To date, his works had been featured in a solo, juried and number of group exhibitions in the US and Philippines. Notable among which were those held at the
Tipton Gallery- Tennessee, AN/T Gallery- Seattle, Jen Tough Gallery/ Artist Alliance)- Minnesota, Rochester Contemporary Arts Center- New York, and the
UP Vargas Museum- Diliman and Bencab Museum- Baguio City. Bitancor’s present oeuvre consists of two-dimensional exploration of linear, planar and textural compositions in a non-representational manner. His concerns consist of not only unifying chaotic elements in abstract compositions, but also injecting them with symbolic references to social realities.
To date, his works had been featured in a solo, juried and number of group exhibitions in the US and Philippines. Notable among which were those held at the
Tipton Gallery- Tennessee, AN/T Gallery- Seattle, Jen Tough Gallery/ Artist Alliance)- Minnesota, Rochester Contemporary Arts Center- New York, and the
UP Vargas Museum- Diliman and Bencab Museum- Baguio City. Bitancor’s present oeuvre consists of two-dimensional exploration of linear, planar and textural compositions in a non-representational manner. His concerns consist of not only unifying chaotic elements in abstract compositions, but also injecting them with symbolic references to social realities.
Art statement:
Early on, I have always been fascinated with the possibilities of transforming a given object or material from one state to another with the barest of means. I took pleasure as a child in hand-crafting my toys from scrap. This would later translate to wood carvings and two-dimensional mixed-media works.
I must admit owing allegiance to the concerns of Picasso and Braque in treating reality as a springboard towards abstraction. As can be gleaned from my present works, there are traces of the everyday from the use of materials and graphic devices that hint at what is real, be it an anecdote or a commentary. Yet, I am able to explore its intended spontaneity through manipulation of tactile qualities and juxtaposition of elements, and while acknowledging these formal characteristics, my main impetus is my latent sensibility - of being rooted and integrated, rustic and cosmopolitan and emotional and cerebral at the same time.
Early on, I have always been fascinated with the possibilities of transforming a given object or material from one state to another with the barest of means. I took pleasure as a child in hand-crafting my toys from scrap. This would later translate to wood carvings and two-dimensional mixed-media works.
I must admit owing allegiance to the concerns of Picasso and Braque in treating reality as a springboard towards abstraction. As can be gleaned from my present works, there are traces of the everyday from the use of materials and graphic devices that hint at what is real, be it an anecdote or a commentary. Yet, I am able to explore its intended spontaneity through manipulation of tactile qualities and juxtaposition of elements, and while acknowledging these formal characteristics, my main impetus is my latent sensibility - of being rooted and integrated, rustic and cosmopolitan and emotional and cerebral at the same time.