07 February marked the opening of “The Possessed,” a one-man exhibit of painter Poch Naval, at 8lanc Gallery, Salcedo-Makati. The artist “played with a historical document (by Pigafetta!), enlarged some words until until another story can be made out.”  The concept sounded deceptively simple, yet looking at the works, there was nothing simple about it; the series was a mind-bender (or mind f**ker, if you will).   Until then, I never realized how difficult it would be to look at a drawing, not on a blank canvas, but superimposed on prints. Concentrate on lines of words, or paint? I still have no answer, other than to look at it long enough, see what comes out, and walk away a lot richer for it.

8lanc Gallery is at 107, H.V.dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati.