Have You Heard About Romeo Lee?

The clock’s ticking fast. I needed to interview an artist. I asked almost everybody listed in my cellphone if they knew of an artist and they usually tell me, “Ay, may kilala akong comic artist. Puwede na ba yun?” Otherwise, they know nobody. I did not want a comic artist. I wanted an artist who is a lot more unusual. At the end of the day, I got what I wanted.

A reliable source gave me Romeo Lee’s number. He replied almost immediately and agreed to be interviewed in his Magnet Gallery nearby ABS-CBN. However, I went on ahead and decided to feature him in my interview. I had no idea how he looked like, but I knew he was a punk artist so I expected a (excuse me for stereotyping punks) leather jacket, dyed hair, and piercings galore.

My expectations were apparently wrong. What greeted me was the sight of a middle-aged man with scruffy hair that stuck up in a slanting direction and instead of leather, was wearing cut-off shorts with patches and pink socks.

His art exhibit was a little bit crazy. There were two rooms, and the one that was surrounded by white walls were filled with vandalism from top to bottom. Old shoes and a few of his paintings were displayed by the walls. In the middle of the room was a golden sculpture of him lying down a stack of old VHS players. The other room contained another few of his paintings and a pile of clothing on top of a table.

There were television sets on the floor of the white-walled room. One was playing an episode of his guest appearance in People.

“Panoorin mo yan, para may idea ka tungkol sa akin,” he told me. The other television set showed him in a spa, with his face being kneaded like dough by a pair of hands. I asked him what the purpose was of showing that.

“Ako kasi eh, anti-star. Pero [ironic] naman kasi sumikat ako hindi ko naman alam kung bakit eh. Ibig sabihin nung pagiging anti-star ko, anti-celebrity, pinapakita ko yung panget na nagyayari sa [behind the scenes].” Definitely the sight of his face being pressed and squeezed by a million fingers was not particularly enticing me to go to a spa myself.

Lee was a graduate of fine arts in UP. He was influenced by his friends to become the punk artist he is now. He also loves all kinds of music and ukay-ukay clothing (which explains where he gets his eccentric wardrobe). He is also the vocalist in his band, the Brown Briefs. He comments that he likes to make people laugh when is on stage. As seen on the episode of People, he was fond of taking on the limelight all by himself.

My attention went to the white walls. So, Mr. Lee, what’s your art all about? “Ayan o, tingnan mo. Mga tao… lahat ng paintings ko [tungkol sa] personal na buhay ko. Siguro parang Van Gogh ang dating. Hindi ako makapagpainting pag walang music.” Have you tried painting without music and what was the result? “Oo, nasubukan ko na. Pero malungkot.”

Right now, the song playing in the background was a punk version of what was supposed to be a slow song. “Well, what will be your advice to aspiring artists?”