Cebuano artist Dominic Matthew Ricardo, known as KOMPOZTIKA and DMR, opened his solo thesis exhibition “KUNGPUSILONTIKAAA” at Galerie Inatù in Cebu City. The show draws from his traumatic experience during the Philippine Drug War in 2017, when masked state forces raided his home, extorted his family, and threatened to shoot him. The exhibition features paintings and works on paper that explore power dynamics, trauma, and the concept of “Situational Gods,” centered on a character named JOD who represents state violence and the god complex of oppressors.
The exhibition matters because it transforms a deeply personal trauma into a public artistic statement, addressing the ongoing legacy of the Philippine Drug War through the lens of a young artist. By reclaiming his narrative and giving form to his fear, Ricardo demonstrates how art can serve as a tool for healing and resistance. The show also highlights the role of emerging artists in the Cebu art scene who engage with political and social issues through neo-expressionist and lowbrow aesthetics.