The Museum of Modern Filipino Art (MoMFA) begins with a dream and the land on which to build it.  To stand proudly on historic Mount Samat in Bataan, its goal is to showcase the best of modern and contemporary Filipino art and to instill in future generations an abiding love and pride in their cultural heritage.  Aside from the structure that will preserve and display the art collections, activities such as exhibits, competitions and workshops are being designed for the MoMFA dream to come to fruition. By doing all this, we acknowledge with gratitude that man’s innermost aspirations and his very ability to create art emanates from the Divine Creator Himself.

Rovi Jesher Salegumba

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Rovi Jesher Salegumba graduated in 2007 from the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines.  He has been a consistent finalist at the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence competition and was awarded the Grand Prize in the 2006 National Shell Art Competition for his piece entitled “Become”.  His works have been exhibited around the country and in the Netherlands, and are scheduled to be shown at the “Unity in Diversity” exhibit next year at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre.

He counts Gustav Klimt and Hieronymus Bosch among his influences. Experienced in digital art, Rovi employs a distinctive, precisely-controlled style of impasto in his oil paintings, unlike the often-random manner of other artists.  Combine this with his equally-meticulous rendering of shading, and the resulting artworks have very sharp, clean lines and intricate textures that consistently evoke admiration from art enthusiasts.

While his color palette may range from soft to vibrant and his characters and settings often surreal or metaphysical, Rovi’s compositions always exude an air of serenity and lightness.  The images of birds figure quite repeatedly in his artworks, as they are his chosen metaphor for the soul or spirit.

An avid traveler and lover of nature, Rovi believes in the healing power of art in its many forms, whether visual or in the form of music and literature.  His love for culture and the environment are clearly seen in his creations, as is his desire for his work to uplift the spirits of his viewers.  

The artworks of Rovi Salegumba are always in high demand among galleries and private collectors, and he always finds himself with a long list of orders and commissions.  Without any doubt, his creations are definitely worth waiting for!