Nix Puno says he does not have a skincare routine, although I would’ve believed the sprightly painter if he said he did. He says “It’s a band thing. Band people have a way of looking young,“ he jokes. Before plunging into the visual art space in full force, the 40-year-old artist wore many hats, many of which revolved around the music scene. “I went from being a roadie to being a road manager, to working on music events, and actually playing for the bands.”

While illustrative art was clearly on his horizon, it wasn’t something he saw in the shape of a career. “I grew up drawing. I’d draw cartoons. I’d draw what I’d see on TV. I’d draw the stuff off the boxes of my toys. It was really just doodling. But it wasn’t something I always knew I’d pursue.” Like many ingenious forces, it helped, too, that he had the inherent goods to back him up. “My dad was an architect and my mom worked in interior design, so it ran in the family.”

Photos — Marvin Conanan, from the Saturday Morning Post Exhibit Launch

His journey in the dynamic world of creatives was nothing short of foreseeable, considering how many of his pals were and are local rockstars and art mavens. His immediate thrust into professional artistry, on the other hand, started when he unreluctantly embraced opportunities that made their way to him. “In 2004, I had a friend whose mom commissioned me to paint for her. My friend was in the U.S. at that time and her mother wanted to surprise her with a painting. I told her mom up front that I didn’t paint, but she challenged me. Looking back, it was a push that started it all.” 

He shares that no pegs were set and no special instructions were given. All he remembers is being asked to paint for her friend. He ended up painting his rendition of his friend’s younger self — a work of art that would soon find its way to his first solo exhibit. “That same year, Big Sky Mind in New Manila called me one day saying an artist for an exhibit they were brewing backed out, so they asked if I was interested.” 

And interested, he was.

View the exhibit at PURVEYR Post until January 15, 2020
Paintings and the actual Polaroid inspirations.

Nine major exhibits later, he continues to create magic with brushes and lucidity. Among many Nix Puno brand elements, his most apparent signature today is the size of his paintings. Beginning in 2015, his works have seen the light of day through 6” by 6” canvases. Referencing Instagram, he explains that “the idea of cramming things we value in small frames” appeals to him. “I would see groups of people glued to their screens, watching entire movies and it fascinated me how the majority of the things we see, we see in and through our phones.”

His clever depiction of art appreciation also vividly complements his affinity with pop culture. However diverse, a commonality that his body of work shares is themes that touch on entertainment and streetwear. For instance, his ‘Kakabakaba Ka Ba?’ exhibit showcased paintings of stills from Mike De Leon’s 1981 film, meanwhile exhibits Jack Russell Terror, Working Title and Big Diff, co-headlined with Gab Baez, all feature portraits of musicians.

It is Nix’s attention to detail that speaks to you the most. Whether the impression of unfinished sketches or the novelty of small-scale paintings, his artwork naturally warrants deliberate attentiveness.

Granted that art is a “language of aesthetics,” Nix acknowledges that being a committed artist is a vocation that comes with politics and privilege. His advice to aspiring full-time artists is to determine, with emphasis, whether or not they see art as a viable profession or merely a hobby. “Never just quit your job because you feel like it. Find out if this is something you’re willing to sacrifice for and improve on. It’s also hard to just say follow your dreams, especially if you have a family that depends on you. But if you can, please do. When you’re created for this, there will be provision.” 

Nix’s Saturday Morning Post exhibit at PURVEYR Post Poblacion is a celebration of local art and streetwear. It’s on our gallery wall from November 28 to January 15, 2020.