Cover Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
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Tarzeer Pictures recently exhibited the works of photographer Geloy Concepcion, telling a story about the power of first impressions
Tucked away in Pasong Tamo, you’ll find the Tarzeer Pictures gallery, known for espousing the art form of photography in the Philippines. Its bright red facade greets guests and curious visitors, welcoming them into the well-appointed space, scented with incense, and carefully lit to expertly illuminate the works on display.
On show now until March 21 is Nice to Meet You My Friend, an exhibition by photographer Geloy Concepcion. This creative skyrocketed to fame during the pandemic for his anonymous yet very public displays of secrets sent in from fans around the globe titled Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did. Many of these were posted on his popular Instagram page, showcasing face-less personas and pointed messaging, revealing feelings and confessions that many may resonate with. As a prolific photographer based in the United States and a Thirteen Artists Award recipient of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the team thought having a physical show in Manila would be an exciting opportunity to show how he is expanding his storytelling.
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Above Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
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“One of the foundations of what Geloy does is his sense of interaction and connection. His series Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did is built around these connections but is initiated by degrees of anonymity, exploring concealment and vulnerability. He was eager on supplementing this ongoing project with this new series, Nice to meet you my friend. It’s still founded on connection but is characterised by larger human faces. Big and personable portraits that are not concealed, where we can see their eyes and their spaces and their clothing,” explains Enzo Razon, co-founder of Tarzeer Pictures.
For Nice to meet you my friend, the artist did quite the opposite. Instead, for Tarzeer’s project, this exhibition was a portrayal of portraits regarding first impressions of friends and strangers. Faces of the many encounters Concepcion had decorated the walls, displaying fresh, raw looks and awkward yet vulnerable facial expressions we can all relate to. Through his collection of images, he aims to touch on the beauty, intimacy and mystery of meeting people.
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Above Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
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“This project acts as a foil to his very popular and ongoing project, Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did. It strips the anonymity and leaves us with a face and a friend to whom we can attach different parts of ourselves. We thought that was an unexpected way to detail his evolving work and that it would integrate well with our space and what we do at Tarzeer Pictures,” Razon expounds.
“The images in the exhibit are a small selection of many portraits taken across different cities. So, in terms of curation, it was important for us to grasp this breadth within an intimate setting. There are scenes indoors, on the street, at different times of day. The images that aren’t portraits are like signposts, speaking to the effort Geloy makes to meet people in going from place to place. As a group, we hope that they communicate the sincerity and warmth of his practice,” adds Tarzeer Pictures co-founder Dinesh Mohnani.
Above Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
Geloy Concepcion, Tarzeer Pictures
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Over 700 guests poured in, from the country’s top photographers to students, friends, family and fans, eager to see Concepcion’s works on exhibit. The energy during the opening week was bright and jovial yet deep as people left meaningful, heartfelt messages to Concepcion in the guest book, noting how the artist impacted their lives.
“We hope that Geloy’s work here allows people to reflect on their own sense of interaction in their lives, big and small. How resonant even the smallest gestures can be,” Razon comments.
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Isabel loves to learn, and see things from different perspectives. Connecting with people and engaging in new experiences to broaden her horizons is what inspires this storyteller, keeping her constantly curious, and excited for what's to come. An absolute love for all things F&B ignited a hunger to devour content from this world and keeps her jumping into tasty adventures around the globe. From the beauty of simple bites, to nuanced fine dining tasting menus, street food, and the art of entertaining, the multi-faceted nature of the dining experience is something she can't get enough of. A good cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a dash of witty conversation is a quick way to win her over. This editor loves travelling, food, music, skincare, fitness, and is only friends with people who love dogs. Guilty pleasure?: Binge-watching TV shows and movies she has already seen.
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Concept creation is the name of the game and branding takes centre stage in Isabel's day-to-day schedule. From producing shoots, conceptualising bespoke projects for our partners, relationship management, to cooking up features and events for Tatler Dining, this editor is a tried and tested foodie at heart. She mainly writes content for Tatler Dining, engaging in captivating discussions with restaurateurs, chefs, producers, and food enthusiasts to tell must-know stories. Aside from that Isabel manages Tatler Dining's flagship events like Off Menu, or Cocktail Festival and puts together the Tatler Dining Guide, our annual listing of the best eats around town.
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