Sonder
SOLO EXHIBITION BY
Gelo Montiero
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Pause. Breathe. Listen. Sonder.
Gelo Montiero’s work is an invitation to an intimate whisper of existence urging us to pause and realize the vastness of existence beyond our own. In every fold of fabric and every movement, there is a quiet unraveling of interconnected lives, unseen stories, and fleeting moments that shape our experiences. The fabric, in his pieces, is more than just material—it becomes a metaphor for the human condition, reflecting our struggles, secrets, and the invisible ties that bind us to one another. Like the act of washing garments, his pieces explore the rituals of cleansing—of purging, of surrendering, of coming to terms with the weight we carry. The fabric, pulled and wrung, becomes a metaphor for tension and release, for humility in the act of letting go. Every stain, every crease, every thread speaks of lives intersecting, of struggles hidden behind the ordinary.
A single, massive cloth is shared among many while some hands shielding the flame, protecting it like a cherished secret, while the others reach curiously, seeking to touch, to uncover what remains hidden. This interplay of concealment and curiosity mirrors the relationships we form in life, where trust and mystery coexist. There is a quiet tension in knowing that some things must remain veiled while others long to be revealed. This delicate balance is captured in Whisper of Existence (Bulong ng Pag-Iral), a piece that embodies the silent understanding that everyone carries unspoken truths, aspirations, and memories. The accompanying song for this piece captures this tension, where we are reminded of the truths we guard, the light we shield, and the delicate connection between knowing and remaining in the unknown.
But sonder is not just about what remains hidden… it is also about the forces that pull us toward each other. The threads that hold us together are the same ones that pull us, creating an unseen tension between responsibility and desire. This quiet struggle unfolds in Empathy (Paghahatakan), a piece that speaks of the weight of connection. To empathize is to recognize this pull, to feel the resistance of another’s burden while carrying one’s own. Here comes the act of surrender where Humility (Pagpiga) reflects the labor of squeezing water from soaked fabric, an action that demands effort, patience, and release. Just as wringing out cloth removes excess, humility requires us to let go of pride and ego, to relinquish what burdens us.
Gelo Montiero’s works do not merely depict sonder; they embody it. The way cloth is stretched, hung, folded—each motion echoes the silent stories of strangers, the whispered burdens they carry, the ephemeral nature of human connection. His art reminds us that within every passerby, every fleeting glance, there exists a universe as intricate and profound as our own.
Where do you go to cleanse yourself? What do you hold onto? And what do you finally release?
Words by Rae Shiori
