Nocturne en bleu (2026) by Jose Solon Perfecto
Artist Statement for Nocturne en bleu (2026) by Jose Solon PerfectoSince I moved to La Union to pursue my art and pottery full-time, I’ve had a recurring dream of finding myself underdressed in unexpected social encounters with the deceased women from my maternal grandmother’s Cebuano lineage. The dream has a way of questioning the qualities I find most valuable to my practice, like being unguarded and relaxed, and reminding me of the expectations, perhaps also duties, that I carry not only from family tradition, but in my blood. There is no conflict in my waking life about my choices, but these dreams always make me feel vulnerable and unsettled.
Nocturne en bleu is the first time I’ve confronted this abstract experience. As self-portraits, my previous sculptures in Terroir Ceramics have always reflected my literal environment, living at the foot of a mountain in La Union – far away from what my dream-state relatives would call “home.”
In this past decade of working on my art, I’ve devoted myself to the philosophy of pottery as an hermitage. Out of the city and the social politics of my generation, I am able to literally and figuratively tend to my own garden, instead of looking over other fences where the grass could be greener and so forth. My recurring dreams pull me inward and take me into another garden – an inner terrain where, as I’ve discovered in the process of these works, my inner terroir is displayed. Seemingly black at first glance, concealing its identity, the glaze reveals the rich, deep cobalt blue in which I’ve generously slathered my self-portraits.
Jose Solon Perfecto, 2026
Jose Solon Perfecto’s sculptures start out as wheel-thrown vessels. They are altered and joined together using a unique sculpture clay that incorporates rice husks and coffee grounds, along with bisque-fired powder of the same clay, all blended and aged in the artist’s La Union studio by the foot of a mountain. “Nocturne en bleu” are hand-painted with a blended cobalt carbonate underglaze, then dripped with an ash-based white shino glaze. They are then propped on shells in the kiln during a 10-hour 1,300-degree Celsius firing. Once cooled, the shell imprints on the works are then grinded and polished to an almost metallic finish. These ‘self-portrait sculptures’ are part of the artist’s ongoing theme of self-perception and identity – first seen in Etudes in Survival (2023), his first solo exhibit, then in Terroir & Tapestries (2024) a group show (alongside Pablo Capati III, Geraldine Javier, Mikee Naval, and Paulo Lozano); both exhibited at Aphro Living. These three featured sculptures were displayed at Format in Kapitolyo, Pasig for the group show Untold Stories (2026). A new series of 8 sculptures are on display at Where City Meets Home, a Vito Selma & Casa Selma Pop-up at The Glass House in IPI Center by Rockwell, Mabolo, Cebu City from September 26 to October 1, 2026. Three additional ceramic pieces will also be exhibited at Daluyong, the L’Fisher Hotel 36th Founding Anniversary art exhibit in Bacolod City from September 29 to October 8, 2026.
Words by Aussy Perfecto | Photos by Andie Remulla
Jose Solon Perfecto brought 3 ‘Nocturne en bleu’ sculptures to “Daluyong,” an art exhibit curated by Jason Montinola at the L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City. The group show celebrates the 36th Founding Anniversary of the landmark hotel in Negros Occidental. Contact L’Fisher Hotel for the catalogue of featured works, available from September 29 to October 8, 2026.
Jose Solon Perfecto has displayed 8 ceramic sculptures in ‘Nocturne en bleu’ for the Vito Selma and Casa Selma pop-up event, “Where City Meets Home,” from September 26 to October 1, 2026 at The Glass House at IPI Center by Rockwell, Mabolo, Cebu City. Exclusive tabletop pottery and objects entitled “Blue Sky” and “Coastal Clay” by Perfecto Deli were also exhibited. Contact Casa Selma for catalogue and commissions in Visayas and Mindanao.
‘Nocturne en bleu’ by Jose Solon Perfecto was first displayed at 54 Santa Rosa House in Kapitolyo, Pasig City for Format’s group show, “Untold Stories,” along with Job Abednego, Roxanne Hermoso, Bea Aben, Jojo Barja, and Jing from August 20 to September 10, 2026. The debut collection consisted of a series of three sculptures: Nocturne en bleu 01, 02, 03. For inquiries, contact Format.ph.
