Lamantara: Ragamasa 175x175cm (diptych) mixed media on canvas 2021 Lamantara: Ragamasa (Betwixt: Being-Moment) 175 x 175cm. This painting I do is akin to an architectural and conceptual proposal of an arcology- derived monument in relation to our society and its current environment. It presents the bleak and hopeful period that we live in. I started this work with layers of colourful impasto strokes depicting structures only to mute them in monochrome afterwards. It is as though the monument built has been deteriorated and consumed by time thus forming into a landscape of mountains and cliffs. All these happenings were accordance to how I felt these past few weeks; In between uncertainties and to thrive and to live. I was hoping time can move faster and let this feeling be nothing but a monument of remembrance. The thin panel on the side of the work acts as a counter balance for the main panel. Intense and darker, I consider it as a separate palette-landscape; a surface for brush stroke-notes, obscure imageries and faded diagrams. These are the aspects that reflect my state of being in relation to my own version of utopias, while the connection between this panel narrates a betwixt of places. A space where my subconscious lived and I expressed it here.

Arkologi: Reverie 2020 122.5cm x 85cm Ink, blood and Water colour on paper Reverie, a daydream. I have to admit I am in constant reverie on how things could be. Restlessness was what I felt during the earlier stage of the lockdown period. Apart from making art, I had the opportunity to make time for reading, research, reconsider my practice in art and not to mention as a person. I never stop imagining and dreaming for a change. I started the Arkologi Series painting a few years ago to convey my dissatisfaction on the system, hierarchy, over-consumption and capitalism. It derives from Arcology; a term that was originally coined by Paolo Soleri combining ecology and architecture. What seems to be a noble idea turned into a realization of how hard it is to change our behaviour when it comes to space and resources. So I went back to this idea to relate to how solidarity in coming days is so important to tackle these issues. What I have drawn here is a representation of how messed up we are and how little solutions we have come up with. I can see we are bonded together better when it comes to destroying rather than saving. In this work, there are less positive visuals but it is also a reminder that we can band together regardless the circumstances. Maybe what is positive in this is how we are resilient and not giving up whenever the situation is against us. The figure in suits and masks, they came together as plague doctors, scientists and frontliners. Trying to mend things rooted from the giant ghastly figure. Hills uprooted. Artificial world constructed. Chaos ensued. Yet we thrived and kept on moving forward. My work here is an attempt to create an improvised sense of whimsicality combined with my architecture background. It is also an observation of social communities presented in contemporary dystopian ideas. A visual glimpse of my daydream. Be it good or bad, I am hopeful that together we can turn the tides.

Dystopians: Remembrance Ritual 152.5 x 152.5cm Acrylic on canvas 2020 My latest works will be at Art fair Philippines 2020 at Artemis Art (Booth 26 Level 6) "Young artist Ajim Juxta makes his return to Manila after his first international solo exhibition, Dystopians, held at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery last year, and we will be featuring two new works from the artist, who continues to expand his Dystopians series of works, the inhabitants of the artist's Arcology universe that is the center of Ajim's current artistic focus. This marks the second time the artist makes his appearance at this art fair, after being part of Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery's backroom in last year's iteration." -(text taken from Artemis Art)