PLANET OF THE PANGIT

In Filipino culture, calling someone or something "pangit" can carry layered meanings, especially within close relationships. What might initially seem a harsh label can, in fact, signal intimacy. Within trusted circles, terms like "pangit" become playful markers of familiarity and authenticity, symbols of camaraderie that come from shared experiences and mutual acceptance of one another’s flaws. It’s an honesty born from the comfort of being seen without filters or pretenses, a language that speaks to a depth of bond that politeness could never uncover. 

For his third solo exhibition, Bacolod-based visual and sound artist Mel Araneta (A73), contemplates the encounters he's had along his journey, presenting over a hundred works in acrylic on canvas, paper, and fabric assemblages, that depict a variety of beings—both human and non-human—he has met on this seemingly preposterous planet. A73’s story begins on Guimaras Island, where his love for the boundless ocean fueled his penchant for adventure, ultimately leading him to extensive travels as a yacht crew member across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Still, it was his deportation from North Cyprus that left an indelible mark—an experience that shifted from an ugly scar to a reminder of resilience, an affirmation honoring those to whom he owes his life-stories. 

Planet of the Pangit challenges our ingrained biases around ugliness, suggesting that our perceptions carry a richness of meaning that goes far beyond superficial judgments: ugliness emerges not as a flaw to be hidden or corrected but as a distinct presence—the "pangit," whether found in people, experiences, or our surroundings, often has a raw authenticity that pierces through pretense. This ugliness, although uncomfortable, yet has a transformative potential, compelling us to confront, or perhaps even cherish, those aspects of life we would usually avoid. 

Beauty and ugliness exist side by side. By confronting the "pangit," in the planet and its diverse inhabitants, we get to see life for its true face.  (John Alexis Balaguer)