Plants take the limelight in “Talim at Tingkad,” the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA)’s latest art exhibit.

Leaves shine in shades of yellow, green, pink, and red in unique shapes, lines, and forms, as captured by artist Irma V. Dimaranan. Her acrylic paintings feature plants that were popular among plant enthusiasts during the pandemic.

“My work is an examination of leaves, [of] their blades or edges (talim) and the uniqueness and intensity of their colors (tingkad),” said Dimaranan, a television and film writer by profession. She considers herself a self-taught artist and has joined painting exhibits in garden shows and charitable art events in the past. “Talim at Tingkad” is her first solo exhibit.

A Los Baños native and a UPLB alumna, Dimaranan’s plant subjects are inspired by her photography from her daily walks in her neighborhood, garden stalls, and her mother’s collection. Her observation of the lush surroundings makes her stop to meticulously examine plants’ blades, vein direction, midrib, margin, and base. She shared that she gently examines the texture of the plant leaves to see which ones are smooth and glossy, corrugated and embossed, leaving no details behind as those features are what she finds necessary. 

Dimaranan said that she was inspired by the sudden increase of plant enthusiasts during the pandemic.

“Suddenly, with much time working from home, there’s the interest and obsession to collect and propagate pricey varieties [like] philodendron, caladium, and mayanas,” she said.

Dimaranan considers propagation as a form of therapy and said that some passionate collectors have developed a talent for identifying rare plant varieties based on their leaves. This inspired her to preserve the distinct character of every leaf and immortalize their beauty and uniqueness by painting them on canvas.

“Talim at Tingkad” formally opened on July 5 and will run until August 5. The collection can be viewed at the Sining Makiling Gallery at the basement level of DL Umali Hall, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. All exhibit paintings are for sale. Interested art enthusiasts may contact 09173210785 for details. (KEAraguas)