Leonardo C. Comargo Jr. (b.

1982) was born in Calagundian, City of Mati

as a kid he would draw characters from Japanese and American anime
that he regularly observed on TV and other media stage. Before long,
this pastime transformed into a genuine enthusiasm for expressions of
the human experience into art practice.
Comargo studied Bachelor of Fine Art major in painting at the
University of Mindanao. Among artist who impacted his art practice
and remarkable complex approach, Comargo refers to, Ron English,
Naotohattori, Mark Ryden, Ronald Ventura, Bryan Yabut, and Michael
Villagante.
Indeed, Comargo’s previous body of works to be characterized by art
world observer’s as a pop surrealist. Were most of his representation of
his artworks varies in psychedelic exploration of anatomy and its once
exploring life, death and all experience in between. As his works blends
with chaotic explosion of Color and Absolute randomness with doodle
and illustrative comic and pop arts by combining various media in oil,
acrylic, latex and ballpoint pen.
Past exhibits in the local context include iterations of art Atelier at the
Museo Dabawenyo (2015,2017), “Obra Ginagmay” in Felcris Centrale
(2016), “Merging Current” at the Matina Town Square (2017), and
other Exhibits in Malls and Schools in Davao.
He also participated in Art in the Park in Makati (2018), “Inretrospect”
at Art Portal Gallery for Contemporary Arts (2018), “What Does It
Means to be a Filipino? “under CANVAS Gallery held at the Vargas
Museum in Diliman Quezon City (2018), “CONFIGURE” at the Art for
Space and Urban Chick Gallery in Laguna (2018), Art Blast “Young
Bloods and Young Hearts” at ArtAsia Gallery (2019), “ENGKWENTRO SA
LABUYO” at Art for Space and Urban Chick Gallery (2019), and the 1st
Mindanao Art Fair and Exhibit “Meander” at Atrium Gaisano Mall,
Davao City (2019).
Recent Exhibits in an online platform also include” Inkcredibles: The
Pen and Ink Artshow” represented by ArtShow Philippines (2020),
“Human Condition” under Galerya Amalia (2020) and “ENGKWENTRO
2020: The Pandemik Resbak “Hosted by SIning Labuyo Art Immersion
and Retreat house under the wings of Art for Space (2020).
Comargo as an artist, plans to recount to the Stories from the general
public where he grew up, to share the way of life's he saw.
 
efore MindanaoArt2019, Art Portal, Gallery for Contemporary Art has been staging art exhibits
all year round. Each curated exhibit reflects and critically responds to contemporary issues in
Davao and Mindanao. As they are guided by regional concerns, the artists also engage with the
question on what makes art contemporary and conversant with a larger art context. Two exhibits
will be launched in October: Meander for the first ever Mindanao Art Fair and Lupa, a satellite
exhibit. 

Meander
4-6 October 2019

Meander features Ang Valente, Dennis Puzon, El San, Jester Oani, Leonardo Comargo, Noi
Narciso, Paula Feliciano, Red Genotiva, and Trexia Sola. All are Davao-based artists exhibiting
in the booth of Art Portal, Gallery for Contemporary Art.

Curator Laya Boquiren explains: “The analogy of a meandering river was deployed to emphasize
that the trajectory of art (in Davao) is multi-directional and labyrinthine. The roster of artists in
Art Portal, Gallery for Contemporary Art responded to this provocation. With no claims to
authenticity or didactic representations of Mindanao art and identity, the artists revel in the
mutable experiments being enacted – as tides change and currents flow. Contemporary art in
Davao is hybrid given its colonial history and current situation as a city that weaves a diverse
cultural fabric. Artists and cultural workers have been remaking the spaces of the city and
staging exhibits in pragmatic spaces for several decades now. They have always been resilient
and resourceful. However, the current flow of artworld capital from the state and the private
sector as well as the hyper-mediation of experience allows images to circulate at a rapid pace and
sometimes an enormous scale. The transmission of visual culture is multi-directional.”

Last August 2019, Art Portal launched a teaser exhibition at the NCCA Gallery in Intramuros,
Manila. It was a prelude to the Mindanao Art Fair and was staged as a way to introduce Davao-
based artists to audiences in Manila and drum up the Mindanao Art Fair as well. Also guest-
curated by Boquiren, the exhibit featured Puzon and Feliciano with other artists often represented
by Art Portal. Meander examines the flows of artistic formation in Davao and based on the
present visual repertoire offered by Art Portal, an arts scene currently changing.

Artist Profiles

Red Genotiva (b. 1993) was born in Davao City. As a child, he would draw characters from
Japanese anime that he often saw on television, posters, and other media platforms. Soon, this
hobby turned into a serious interest in the arts.