In Memoriam: Jhon Lery M. Gorme (1996-2019)
Life is indeed swift and fleeting. So it is for ProjectSaysay volunteer Jhon Lery M. Gorme (b. 23 April 1996), a seafarer by profession but an artist by passion. Jhon left us on 21 January 2019 after succumbing to depression.
Yet in the brief 22 years that he lived, laughed, loved, and learned with his family and friends, Jhon no doubt left the earth better than when he had first set foot on it.
Jhon's life was not easy. Like many of us, he was torn between a profession and passion. Ultimately, Jhon chose art even if it meant fighting every day to make ends meet. To get by, Jhon worked more than five days a week at a restaurant while at the same time squeezing in precious minutes to visit an exhibition, to volunteer for causes he cared for, and to establish his startup graphic design company, Disenio Gorme.
At the age of 17, Jhon exhibited his work in Eksibisyong Bonifacio: ‘Sining Alay sa Supremo’ Group Exhibition at Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Museum, Quiapo, Manila. While his first one-man exhibit was held just last year at Prism Gallery Open Call by the Prism Gallery, Makati. What is more touching is that in his bionote archived in ProjectSaysay, he declared that he owe his to his mentors Corazon Jorca his skills in charcoal portraiture from 2005-2006 and to Prof. Patrick August Anthony S. Frias his photography and photo editing skills in 2008.
Jhon's remarkable talent did not go unnoticed with Escolta's The Heritage Collective exclusively distributing his designs. Jhon also actively volunteered for Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp. and Heritage Conservation Society – Youth apart from joining ProjectSaysay.
As a ProjectSaysay volunteer, Jhon developed remarkable designs with his unique visual branding. He took inspiration from the rich heritage of Cavite, Quezon, and Manila, where his family traces its roots from. Jhon was an expert at evoking nostalgia in his designs through his signature version of letras y figuras rendered in Baybayin. Jhon designed the visual collateral for National Literature Month and a series of materials to educate people on Philippine history, which he created in the fashion of children's books illustrations.
Jhon's swan song for ProjectSaysay was a series of digital posters featuring selected quotations by great Filipinos. Jhon was still supposed to illustrate a children's book.
In the last weeks of his life, Jhon has slowly distanced himself from family and friends.
Towards the end of 2018, we, his friends, noticed through his intermittent postings of artworks on social media this suicidal tendency. We also noticed his aloofness both on social media and in person. His mother would eventually find him lifeless in their Bacoor home.
Despite his untimely demise, Jhon's legacy in visual storytelling lives on. ProjectSaysay has lost a volunteer, a friend, and a brother. The Philippines has lost an artist, a genius, a citizen who deeply cared for the country.
It is ProjectSaysay's commitment to continue Jhon's work in the years to come to honor his contributions, to keep his memory alive, and his passion burning.
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