Tense is an expression of time in a sentence, usually through action words called verbs.

Pero sabi nga ni idol Gee Wise, “Hanggad mong panalo ay walang hirap kong na steal, stole, stolen. At tatanghalin ngayong gabi ay ako lang ang kanilang na choose, chose, chosen.”

It is a word salad of how verbs form in tenses. A rap battle of how sentences should not be formed. Nonetheless, how words can be an art form in itself by breaking away from grammatically correct structures to post-modern imaginations of hyping out a crowd and gaining momentum to strike down your opponent with strict harsh words in a battle of freeform lyrical rap.

Like this show, Tenses is a break away from the textbook definition of a tense. A structure to showcase the past, present, and future in the process of art making. To examine what it’s like to do art full-time in an unpredictable world.

The PAST represented by John Loyd – is the depiction of gathering resources, whether physical such as wood, paint, etc., and the mental preparations of gathering ideas, and making up studies. With this, Loyd presents a portraiture of the wild as prep work for the physical and mental capacities required in art making.

The PRESENT portrayed by Eugene – Is the actual work put into practice. to carve out imaginations and transform them into reality. To pick up the brush, to carve the wood, or chisel the stone. Here lies the hard work of doing and visualizing.

And the FUTURE rendered by Jerline – is the end of the journey, when the actual product is finished and showcased. It is then that we ponder on the outcomes of our work and our relation with the product, the buyer, and ourselves as the artist.

Tenses are also composed of what we call a ‘root word’ i.e. run, jump, hold, walk. In this regard, what binds these artists’ works is in the literal sense of a root, “Pinagmulan”. Their ties to the province of Rizal, graduating from the same university, and being members of the same artist group, KUTA. This is their bind, their root word in this context.

Of course, there is more to the construction of a word or the evolution of an action word. It does not end with a past, present, and future tense. and whether what language you use, these words could still evolve into different forms and even transform into other words like nouns, adjectives, etc. This is where we lay our hope, to see past what they could evolve and what their art could be.

To reiterate, Tenses is an exposition of the group’s journey of making. Isang pagmumuni sa karapatang maglikha, o lumikha na gamit ang sariling mga kamay ng magiging produkto nito.

Text by Azriel Domingo