Wall-bound
works
“I rather call myself an artist using a brush, a camera and
a computer,” proclaimed the gentleman who serves as president
of One Workshop, Inc., a well-furnished art and photography studio
in Makati wherein aspiring digital artists are trained. In this
place, one can see his well-equipped photo studio, some of his abstract
paintings, and a gallery for artists exhibiting their works.
The family man who loves traveling and watching movies also expressed
that he treats each of his shot or drawing as a wall bound artwork.
This is why his portfolio as a lensman consists mostly of photographs
mixed with digital painting – the kind of image that finds
itself inside a frame and being hanged on the wall.
“Ang
gusto ko kasi hindi lang photograph ang output ko, gusto ko artwork
sya,” he explained, “Since ang photographer follows
the work of a painter, it’s quite easier for me because I’m
a painter myself.”
He
added, “If you ask me what’s a good photograph, well,
one should be able to capture a moment or a fraction of a second
na hindi mo na pwedeng ibalik. Kapag nakita mo ang sharpness ng
lente sa letrato, that’s one. Or kapag nakuha mong maganda
ang mata. Being a painter, the eye – the window of the soul
– is the most important part of a person’s image. Kaya
nga kapag censored o tinakpan ang mata hindi mo na kilala ang tao.”
A
photographer with a cause
When others find photography just profitable, Rosscapili sees it
as a medium to fight for. He has been known for his efforts in making
photography more respected in the arena of artform exhibition. He
has urged his comrades both in photography and painting to merge
digital possibilities to their art and let the digital stuff enjoy
the essence of art. “I am promoting the move to popularize
photography exhibition more because it’s a way of elevating
photography in our country,” he said with a tone of sincerity.
For
the record, Rosscapili has already founded e-Art Philippines which
tackles promotion of digital art, printing, and even sculpturing.
His near-of-being-accomplished goals include staging photo contests
that highlight into coffee table books and encourage many big-name
artists to get into digital artworks.
As
a studio photographer, his artistry goes beyond clicking his camera.
He does body painting to his subjects using his brushes. By subjects
he means models of high reputation, actresses, and beauty queens.
Why? His reply: “I don’t just do body painting to bodies
alone. There are brilliant women beneath them; they who have credentials
like being a ‘bikini open’ champion.”
Destined
to be an artist
Rosscapili grew up in tondo and ended up a toughie – in the
field of art. His first meeting with art was through the sign-making
stalls that gave color to jeepneys and tricycles. He took up drafting
and ceramics at the Philippine College of Art and Trades (now Technological
University of the Philippines) and later enrolled at the College
of Fine Arts in Philippine Women’s University.
His expertise in art attracted the Philippine Airlines from which
he had an affair with for 16 years, peaking off as he became the
design and production director for PAL’s advertising and promotions
in Europe, United States, and the Middle East. No wonder his constant
traveling and exceptional talent amazed even foreigners that they
include his work in their exhibits.
Rosscapili’s
exhibit at Glorietta called Floral Burst showed his fondness for
Zen aesthetics, which took the public eye to the adventure of seeing
beauty not often seen like extreme close-ups of plants and leaves.
His
family, wife Ellen and kids Kitten and Mio, serve as his big inspirations
to a life blessed with his talent, depth and sensibility. His art
is blessed with a happy and fruitful marriage of painting and photography
– the fruit of which is digital art. It is more likely that
his first name Ross symbolizes his brush, while his surname Capili,
his camera. That’s why the two ended up tied to each other:
Rosscapili – his name that’s been shining all the more. |
