A First Solo Exhibition in Bacolod
BACOLOD - Bacolod-based contemporary artist Doreen Dofitas has opened her debut solo exhibition, “Permission To Play, No Expiry Date,” at Ugsad Creative Space along Molo-Makiling Streets in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City. The exhibition marks an important milestone in Dofitas’ artistic journey as a self-taught artist while introducing audiences to her distinctive approach to contemporary mixed-media art. Through the collection, she presents play not simply as an activity associated with childhood but as a continuing creative process that can remain part of a person’s life at any age.
Exploring Play Through Mixed-Media Art
The exhibition features artworks created using a combination of handmade and recycled paper, fabric, acrylics, pen, and ink. Dofitas uses textured layers, negative space, and contrasting backgrounds to create dream-like compositions that incorporate folk and botanical motifs. Her use of discarded and reusable materials also challenges conventional approaches to art-making while demonstrating how ordinary objects can be transformed into expressive works. The collection encourages viewers to look at creativity as something that can develop through experimentation, imagination, and the freedom to explore different materials and forms.
A Fresh Voice in Bacolod’s Art Scene
Dofitas’ debut exhibition adds another distinctive voice to Bacolod’s growing contemporary art community. Her self-taught background and experimental use of recycled and handmade materials demonstrate how artists can develop personal approaches outside traditional artistic structures. “Permission To Play, No Expiry Date” ultimately celebrates the freedom to create, experiment, and remain curious, presenting play as a creative mindset rather than something that has an expiration date. The exhibition also highlights how local artists can use contemporary art to explore cultural heritage, environmental ideas, and personal identity in meaningful ways.
