NYMFA'S WOMEN OF CURIOSITY

I've known Nymfa Maligaya Ursabia for a couple of years. The first time I met her was while she was still in college at the Philippine Women's University finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Of course, both she and now husband,  Victor Ursabia were still courting back then. Victor had become an apprentice and moved on to become a company member at ballet Philippines. After a few more years, he had become director of the Ballet Philippines Dance School.

Me with Nymfa Ursabia

Eventually, she and Victor got caught up in making a life together and raising a family. Meanwhile, both have pursued different careers. Nymfa stuck to making art. Her first show was at Whitespace in Pasong Tamo, Makati where she collaborated with other visual artists. That was a success. But you know what they say... you're only as good as your last exhibit...

So this exhibit is special for both artist and patrons. This is Nymfa's first solo exhibit where she showcases her identity as an artist. I asked her what took her so long... the ever soft spoken Nymfa coyly smiles and shrugs her shoulders... She had nothing! Honestly, Nymfa is so self effacing you'll wonder how she mustered up the courage to come up with her first show.

Her style is elegant and understated.  Most of the frames are small, 81/2 x 11 inch standard sizes. One can either acquire two to three frames and cluster the pieces together. But they are good enough to stand alone. She has mastered her mixing different media to a point where one can't tell how the collages are pieced together to form a whole.

Russian lady mesmerized by Nymfa's work

All the pieces were immaculate! It was hard to tell where cut pieces of paper met acrylic or oil paint. The focal point of every frame was the portrait of women, naturally. Hence, the title. I get the concept, though. Nymfa manipulates the pictures of different women: from Infantas, to Madonnas to La Gioconda, even and gives them her own spin. Perhaps, culled from her own journey of growth and maturity. she imbues the women with different characters and flavors.

She also has little installations of  winged creatures. Heads of madonnas have been embellished with head gear: crowns, tiaras and diadems. The wings were mounted on pine card boxes and the insides were  decked with different items like coins, tinsel and sundries. These are rather small and can be used  as accent pieces  for coffee tables or mantles. Interesting... very, very interesting!

Somehow, her works remind me of a Primo de Rivera but a more feminine and starkly simple one. Her pieces are different because they command a second... even third look. What he uses for scroll work, Nymfa makes up for in subtle details of torn pieces of paper and splotches of deep color. Somehow, the Ayala Museum's Artist Space is the perfect venue for Nymfa's maiden outing. The subtlety of her work matches the stark interiors of the gallery. Do I hear a husband and wife exhibit in the offing soon?

Women of Curiosity will be at the Ayala Museum from 24-June until the 8th of July.