Preview of ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ by Artu Nepomuceno

Artu Nepomuceno’s presentation at Art Fair Philippines
By Sharrona Valezka

Hailing from a family of filmmakers, Filipino image-maker Artu Nepomuceno’s approach to photography transcends the confines of conventional storytelling. He shapes compelling narratives in his body of work, allowing the subjects to view themselves through his lens. This distinctiveness is further explored in his debut art presentation, ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’, which invites viewers to follow his artistic journey through a series of evocative photographs. The showcase is presented by Art Agenda and Fashion & Market as a part of Art Fair Philippines 2024 from 16 to 18 February. The fair, now in its 11th year, occupies the same space as last year’s iteration at the converted carpark at The Link at the Ayala Center in Manila.

‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ displayed at Art Fair Philippines 2024.

In the local creative industry, Artu is known for his cinematic flair to fashion and commercial photography. His portfolio consists of numerous magazine covers and editorial spreads. His most prominent work to date is the cover story for Vogue Philippines’ April 2023 issue featuring Apo Whang-Od, the eldest traditional Kalinga tattoo artist. ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ marks the start of Artu’s foray into the fine arts as an extension of his eleven-year-long journey as a photographer.

For the presentation, Artu Nepomuceno has created images that serve as a personal excavation into his work. He credits his wife, Manila-based stylist Meg Manzano, as the co-artist. The series comprises nine portraits, fully composed in shades of black and white. At the heart of the images is a sweeping piece of white cloth that the subjects interact with, seamlessly blending in with the crisp background. Here, the cloth finds a profound significance as a storytelling element that is deeply rooted in both Artu and Meg’s creative practices.

‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ displayed at Art Fair Philippines 2024.

Understanding the cloth’s relevance requires us to trace Artu’s journey back to his earlier days as a young, emerging photographer. It was initially smaller pieces of fabric sewn together to create a makeshift butterfly scrim—a diffuser panel to adjust lighting for  commercial projects. Over the years, Artu started using the cloth as a backdrop for photoshoots, and it eventually became a key component of his main photography equipment.

In ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’, Artu and Meg invited close friends and frequent industry collaborators to take part in the project as models. They have played significant roles in the pair’s personal and professional lives. For instance, one of the subjects, Natalya Lagdameo, is a Manila-based jewellery designer whom he commissioned to create the engagement ring for his wife. Correspondingly, another frame depicts Aaron Carlos, Artu’s long-time lighting assistant, who is also a part of his core photography team. During the shoot, the models were asked to experiment with the cloth as they wished.

Artu Nepomuceno, Sabina I, 2024. Image courtesy of the artist.

Artu Nepomuceno, Jullian I, 2024. Image courtesy of the artist.

The series was fully shot with natural lighting to accentuate the creases and folds of the cloth. The artist’s decision behind the photographs’ colour composition was to draw attention to the basic forms of shape and texture. Artu finds the raw appeal in the simplicity of a black-and-white image, which he considers "an appreciation for texture without the presence of colours”. Moreover, the presentation is an homage to the black and white photography pioneers he constantly draws his influences from, namely Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh, and Robert Capa.

The photographs are devoted to telling the stories of the subjects through the artist’s eyes. In contrast to Artu’s existing body of work, this project drives him to unlearn the rules he studied in photography school and lean more towards his artistic instincts. He describes the process by drawing parallels to the act of “splashing paint abstractly on a blank canvas.”

Through ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’, Artu peels the layers of his photography and goes back to its fundamental aspects. Coming full circle, the white cloth symbolises the humble beginnings of his career, and simultaneously, the start of his newly-established fine art practice.

Click here to access the full catalogue of ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’.

Artworks are available for acquisition.

‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ is showcased at Art Agenda (5th floor, booth 1) as a part of Art Fair Philippines 2024 from 16 to 18 February at The Link at the Ayala Center in Makati City, Manila.

Read our interviews with the subjects of ‘A Cathedral of Shadows’ here, and the preview of Art Fair Philippines 2024 on Art & Market here.