Successful Joy Mendoza Rojas’ 10th Solo Exhibition at ArtSpace

Ni Oggie Medina

Atty. Jose Ferdinand “Joy” Mendoza Rojas II, a practicing lawyer and former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, recently showcased his 10th solo art exhibition, titled “Sequens Gradus”, at the ArtistSpace inside the Ayala Museum Annex in Makati City in late October this year.

The exhibition was organized in collaboration with JRFII Studio and The Saturday Group of Artists.

Among those seen during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the exhibit’s opening were arts patron Marivic Madrigal Vasquez, businessman Rommel Panganiban, neurologist Dr. Vincent de Guzman, auction house owner Jaime Ponce de Leon, fashion designer Robbie Santos, horse breeder Mariano V. Tirona, artist Roel Obemio, gemologist Jun Jun Ablaza, art collector Albert Yam, former Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and former Congressman Luis Campos, and Bank of the Philippine Islands independent director Ignacio Bunye.

The Latin title “Sequens Gradus” translated to “The Next Step”, reflecting a pivotal shift in the artist’s visual language. Curated by art critic and poet Carlomar Arcangel Daoana, the exhibition highlighted a pronounced movement toward figuration.

Rather than abandoning the vibrant abstraction he is known for, Rojas seamlessly blends the two styles. He overlays recognizable images, cultural figures, and specific places onto the highly energetic, textured surfaces that define his abstract practice.

In his “Master Color” series, Rojas places figures—such as a man and a woman dancing, as well as a pair of children—within the visual illusion of interior spaces. On the walls of these rendered rooms, he paints “mini-abstracts,” effectively creating complex paintings within paintings.

Figures take center stage in his tribute to monumental artists who have shaped Rojas’ creative mind. He integrates highly recognizable cultural imagery—such as National Artist BenCab’s Sabel, Banksy’s Girl with the Red Balloon, and Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits—reimagining them through his own palette and texture.

Likewise, true to his travel-inspired roots, the collection draws from memories of his global journeys. It explicitly incorporates landscapes like the delicate cherry blossoms of Japan, the dramatic autumn foliage of New England, and the bright summer energy of the French Riviera, alongside his personal devotions to sacred imagery and horses.