: Tracing Paths | Jay Ragma

“Tracing Paths” by Jay Ragma at Galerie Joaquin Collective

 May 24 - June 3, 2024

Text by Mikai Francisco

One can liken living to navigating a maze, where paths intersect by chance or fate. Stories branch out, growing ever more complex with each new experience. Together, they form the intricacies of life’s maze of relationships and circumstances.  

Visual artist Jay Ragma explores these themes of human life and connection in his works. Using the literal connections of painted lines, he creates abstractions of mundane day-to-day relationships to the deep bonds central to the human condition. These lines run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and perpendicular to each other symbolizing the passage through the maze of life. 

“Tracing Paths” is Jay Ragma’s latest mini-exhibit hosted by Galerie Joaquin Collectives. Featured in this small collection of works are the artist’s signature compositions — canvases meticulously painted with interconnected networks of straight lines superimposed on solid backdrops of color. Interlocking strokes form captivating planar shapes within this web, heightened by bursts of color that create an illusion of depth. A strong sense of kineticism festers on Ragma’s canvases. Looking at this mesmerizing web, the artist’s bands of black and white appear to be accelerating, almost vibrating with energy. 

Jay Ragma meticulously traces these lines across his canvases, each path symbolizing a line of personal stories and experiences growing more complex with time. This is the journey of life stripped down to abstract form. The artist’s paintings are filled with a spontaneous intensity, yet an overall geometry is established by the paths each line takes. This forms a sense of order to the chaos felt in the crisscrossing structure of the maze.  

Life emerges as something hopeful despite disarray within the narratives of Jay Ragma’s works. Each circumstance, and moment of connection contributes to the fullness of a beautiful life. “Tracing Paths” invites viewers to reflect on the experiences that brought them to the present – to trace the paths that form the contours of one’s current circumstances and find hope in the messages the artist imparts. 

“Tracing Paths” by Jay Ragma will be on view at Galerie Joaquin Collective from May 24, 2024. We are located on the 3rd Floor of Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St., Makati City. For inquiries, contact or email us at galeriejoaquinonline@gmail.com.