Rosie & Joar
Songcuya
“Vista Alegre," which translates to "Happy Land," is more than just a collaborative work; it's a journey to healing and reconnection found when navigating life's turbulent periods. The title itself is sincerely personal, inspired by the barangay where Rosie and Joar Songcuya shared their childhood in the Visayas region, grounding the entire collection in their roots. This series emerged from a challenging period for artist Joar Songcuya, who, grappling with a major depressive episode in early 2024, found comfort and a profound shift in perspective through the arrival of his mother in his studio.
Having spent over 15 years as an Overseas Filipino Worker—including roles as a domestic helper in Malaysia, a caregiver in Taiwan, and a dressmaker in Brunei Darussalam—Rosie’s presence in Joar’s studio marked a moving reunion. This was a chance for a mother and son to truly connect after decades of physical and emotional distance, mirroring Joar's own global journey as a sea-based Overseas Filipino Worker for over a decade. It was amidst this rediscovery of domestic care and shared space that Rosie, for the very first time, picked up a paintbrush. Her landscapes, vibrant with memories of her childhood farm, trees, mountains, rivers, and the earth, speak of a profound inner peace, a 'happy land' she carries within despite a life of duty as a single mother and foreign worker.
In striking contrast to Joar's fiery, tempestuous seascapes—borne from his seafaring years aboard merchant ships and the emotional echoes of a childhood spent without his mother's daily presence—Rosie's serene depictions of the land served as an anchor. Her calm canvases gently pulled Joar's gaze from the vast, often harsh, oceans towards the comforting embrace of the earth, reminding him of his origins and the quiet strength of his heritage.
"Vista Alegre" becomes a mother-and-son dialogue between sea and land, turmoil and tranquility, reflecting not only their individual experiences but also a narrative of a mother's comforting presence guiding her son back to solid ground. This presentation, featuring Rosie's debut landscape oil paintings, Joar's introspective drawings, text, and a video work, celebrates the power of art and family, the unexpected joy of creation, and the inspiring story of coming home to oneself and to each other.
Rosie and Joar Songcuya are a mother-and-son artist duo whose recent collaboration in "Vista Alegre/Happy Land" marks a thoughtful chapter in both their lives and artistic journeys. Though separated by distance for much of their lives, their shared experiences of global travel and dedication to family found expression in an artistic dialogue rooted in their heritage as descendants of farming and fisherfolk from the island of Panay in the Visayas.
Rosie Songcuya worked for over 15 years of her life, providing for her family as a land-based Overseas Filipino Worker serving across Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. It wasn't until early 2024, during a period of caring for her son, that Rosie first engaged with artmaking. Completely self-taught like her son, her debut body of work features quiet landscape paintings—recollections of her childhood roots.
Joar Songcuya spent over 10 years as a sea-based Overseas Filipino Worker, discovering art while working inside the ship. He pursued art full-time during the 2020 pandemic, building a body of work inspired primarily by water. A challenging personal period in 2024 led to his mother's arrival in his studio, an event that deeply redirected Joar's artistic gaze towards the land. His contributions to "Vista Alegre"—including introspective drawings, text work and video reflect his reconnection to his home island.
Together, Rosie and Joar Songcuya present "Vista Alegre," a series that celebrates the powerful narrative of family, transforming a period of difficulty into a healing collaboration. This collaboration represents a shared return to the land by both mother and son, rekindling their bond after decades apart by means of art.