"Undaunted by a recent diagnosis of Severe Lumabar Disc Bulge, Mel Araneta returned to his native town Bacolod for his 3rd solo exhibit dubbed as “ETNIKTRONIKARANETART”.
The exhibit will open on September 26, 2009 at 6:00 o’clock in the evening and will run until October 17, 2009 at Namit Namit Pagkaon Kag Taliambong (Resto Gallery) located at Artekalye, San Agustin Ext., North Drive, Bacolod City. The opening of his 3rd solo exhibit will coincide with the album launching of his sound art/circuit-bending group Etniktronika, with guest performances from sound artists and musicians Inconnu Ictu and Blend:er, who travelled from Marikina and Cavite, to show support.
Mel Araneta's medical condition commonly known as “slipped disk”, affects his spine and causes him pain and discomfort. He was constrained to leave his day job, and seek refuge and comfort in his art and faith.“At first I was shocked, but I know that God just gave me another trial in my artistic life. I am currently in an ongoing therapy. Art is my life and I will never stop doing this until my last breath. I know God is good all the time.”
Mel Araneta is a painter, sculptor and sound artist who was born on July 12, 1973 in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. He finished his studies at TUP-VISAYAS in 1995. He is also the founding member of the Etniktronika, a group that employs circuit-bending procedures and ethnic instruments to produce their distinct sound. Many of their instruments are crafted from discarded objects usually found in nearby junk shops. His self-made instrument baptized as the "Uyabon" ( means "girlfriend” in Ilonggo dialect) appears as a half-body mannequin with built-in toy keyboard and tampered circuitry. He professes his gratitude to Lirio Salavador of Elemento for inspiration in circuit-bending and d.i.y. electronic instruments.
Inconnu Ictu a.k.a Roger Llagas Lopez a post-musician,experimental composer,improviser,multi-instrumentalist,visual art enthusiast who resides in the shoe capital of the Philippines. Inconnu Ictu means an unknown man's blow or a stroke. As a sound constructor he explores his interest by using obsolete electronic gadgets, pedal fx boxes, defective rhythm consoles, found objects, d.i.y mic and circuit bent materials. Inconnu Ictu has participated and is affiliated with SABAW and EX.I.S.T (experimentation in sound art tradition) sound art collectives, and is a multi-media and explorative art enthusiast.
Blend:er (a.k.a. Cris Garcimo) electronic music composer/producer, analog synth player and soundscape/field recording enthusiast based in Cavite, Philippines His music has appeared in Mood Swing Theater Compilation (2004), Atlanta, U.S.A. One of his tracks was also chosen for S.A.B.A.W. Anthology (2006) – the first anthology of sound art, noise, electronic, and experimental music in the Philippines, and recently in EXperimentation in Sound Art Tradition 3 CD Album. As a performer, he has been invited to various electronic music performances, art galleries and music/sound festivals such as Media Art Manila's Field Trip (Green
Papaya Art Projects) and Ear to Eye Festival (Asia-Europe New Media Art Symposium 09). He has also collaborated, both live performances and studio/remix projects, with musicians and sound artists from E.X.I.S.T., S.A.B.A.W. and Electronica Manila Collective.
Brought to you by NAMIT NAMIT Resto Gallery, Mel Araneta’s family, relatives and friends
Supported by Espasyo Siningdikato, E.X..I.S.T. (Experimentation in Sound Art Tradition), ANIKcessories and Sonic Mind Fields Bookstore.
For more information please contact Mel 0939-4362050."
