Inner Journey
By Hannah A. Papasin
(excerpts reprinted from Lifestyle,SS June 20,2000)

Have you ever stretched the limits of your imagination – because of a “mere” artwork? Or have you tried to embark on a journey through another person’s mind – through a “mere” artwork?
aaaIf not, then it is time for you to venture into an “Inner journey” with Revo Yanson, who is known for artworks which often lean towards the metaphysical and the ethereal.
aaaRevo opened his second one-man art exhibit at the Art Association of Bacolod last June 16. His first, entitled Reflections, was held nearly three years ago also at the AAB.
aaaAnd his creations are not “mere” artworks, since Revo believes that his art – or that of any other artists for the matter – speaks of the truth.
aaa“As long as the artist is truthful, his art is justified. Just like in still life – if you have noticed, may ara still life nga daw kanami and then there is another work nga similar pero indi gid attractive. Truth usually comes out in your artworks, making your work beautiful,” Revo said as he tried to assess the common, usual subjects which his fellow artists have been using.
aaaHe pointed out that he makes it a point to throw away his pretensions everytime he finishes an artwork – so that the truth will come out in his creations, making it more alive and beautiful.
aaa“Art is truth without violence – that’s Gary Granada’s philosophy that I believe in,” Revo added.
aaaRevo is also a perfect antithesis for Martial McLuhan’s “Medium is the message”.
aaaWhile McLuhan stressed that the medium itself contains the message, Revo believes that the value of the message is separate and distinct from the medium.
aaa“I make do with whatever medium is available. If I lack resources or if materials are limited, then I use whatever is available like my signpen maybe or a ballpen. I believe that the content is important, not the medium,” he said.
aaaAs a struggling artist, Revo has gone through hard times, forcing him to utilize whatever limited resources he has.
aaa“I remembered how somebody approached me and said that he admired one of my works nga gin-draw ko using paperbags and a signpen. He said he admired my style. That wasn’t style for me. Sugo ‘to sang panahon because limited kaayo sang resources,” he said.
aaaBut, Revo believes that a simple medium is better than no medium at all.
“If I can’t release what I hold inside, I am curtailing my feelings. Dapat ni siya i-release,” he said.

THE ARTWORKS
aaaInner Journey is a collection of Revo’s recent creations which “gives a glimpse on the psychological and metaphysical conditions of the people”.
Critics might pan Revo’s works for being “tayog” or out-of-touch with reality, but the artist himself believes otherwise.
aaa“It is not an escape from reality but an attempt to look at things at a different perspective,” Revo said.
aaaEmbarking on the Inner Journey enables the viewer to look into the “innermost mind” of Revo.
aaaBut he does not want the viewers to appreciate the mere artistic merit of his artworks.
aaa“I invite the viewer to delve deeper into the artworks, not to remain in the surface. The tendency of remaining at the surface is we appreciate merely nga ka-cute or ka-uti. But if the viewer looks deeper into the artwork, he or she will appreciate its substance not just the aesthetic value,” he said.
aaaRevo describes his exhibit as “a tedious art appreciation activity” which invites viewer to “stretch their imagination to the limits” so that they may be able to see his innermost mind.
aaaLines and intricate curves are consistent in almost all of Revo’s works. Why?
aaa“These are the unseen modes of nature which control man. As long as we are in the mundane world, our actions depend on the modes of nature,” he said.
aaaThe intricate artworks of Revo reflect his state of consciousness and his mood.
“My artwork is influenced by a lot of factors – like my family…all these are reflected on the canvass,” he added.
aaaHis religious inclinations – he being a follower of Hare Krishna – also influenced his output, although he claims that his religion is just one of the influences of his artworks.
aaaAppreciation of Revo’s works should go beyond the aesthetic and it is not hard to see why.
aaaAs his profile says, Revo is “concerned with art that transcends social borders and reflects the innermost realms of our consciousness”.
aaaApparently, this sets him apart from self-proclaimed artists, whose claim to fame is painting members of vegetation – with nary a trace of social or metaphysical consciousness.