There is no better way to show Jacob Bernardo’s imagined worlds than to recreate them inside the confines of a box.
The art of the diorama began in 1839, and was first conceived by Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, before he became one of photography’s founding fathers. Diorama , and photography were answers to the challenge of seeing things while particularly conscious of depth of field.
Diorama as an art form strides between stillness and motion. The figurines against what resembles a theater backdrop, bring scenes of life literally within our grasp.
The stories contained within the box do not have a start nor an end. It is an endless loop of narratives that will always be there and never change.
The whole idea is to explore every nook and cranny and try to make sense of what’s going on with characters culled from the artist’s love for history, folklore, literature, film, illustration, DC and Marvel comics. All of which make for an entertaining miniature world, requiring out-of-the-box thought and imagination in order to attain pleasure.
The cast in one diorama shows Superman looking at our own manananggal chasing something that resemblesThe Mandalorian from the Star Wars saga. And on a hidden corner, stands a child-doll that looks like it came from the Annabelle and Insidious horror films. The setting is a typical scene from Manila’s shanty towns. To breach time, location and space is what defines a multi-verse.
The focus is on storytelling using a piece of art, carefully crafted and constructed mostly from everyday found objects. Its reason for being is pure entertainment and awe. To instill emotion. And to allow us to be lost in another realm that seems to originate in fantasy rather than real life.
Perhaps the building of dioramas is a way to get a general idea of the absurdity of life in this world. It is also a way to control the things we can’t control in the real world. Where absolute right and wrong answers do not exist.
The viewer does not need to interact. The narrative and interactions are hidden, but easily absorbed by the mind.
To do nothing, but to just hang back and enjoy it. We may experience pleasure, mayhem, beauty, challenge, insight, sadness, stimulation, inspiration and humor.
It’s the thrill of discovering things, as we are led by the artist into a small and curious world. A portal to a dreamy dimension.
However otherworldly Jacob’s dioramas may be, they will always allow the viewers a sense of control. Because it is the way the viewer sees it that truly brings the art to life and jump starts them with personal reflection.
Good art is inherently full of ideas and implications that go beyond the obvious. It surprises us. It must speak to us, telling us to take them home, and converse with them.
Art needs an audience. Art needs to communicate. Art demands our attention. Because art is created by an inner child, a basic characteristic which the Universe has blessed all creatives with in large amounts. This real world needs a large dose of imagination. It’s free-of-charge. And probably the only way to get away from reality.
