Biography

Classical painting by JMA- Mededejos Chapel, Cebu, Phil.

JACKie Mauersberger - Arce, was born in 4. September 1961 in Manila, Philippines. She moved to Austria in 1982 to pursue her art career after achieving her degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Philippine Women's University. She took up studies (Master Class) in different fields of arts such as applied graphics, theatre arts and sciences, and directing/screen play writing at the University of Vienna. She put up her own art gallery in 1984.

Between 1985-1986 she was elected as Chairwoman of an art group composed of artists with multicultural backgrounds but their group was dejected and criticized for its existence. Because of down hearted experiences JACKie quit painting in late 1986 and resumed her career in 1994 and started painting again. This time she wanted to use human body as her canvas and transform it into different types of appearances and identities, portraying a moving art. However, there was no possibility for her to present it in public. Some people have strict notion of art, and found her works as absurd, even scandalized by them, uncertain of their value. When she became Chairwoman of the group Filipino Artists in Vienna in 1996 she was still a realist painter. When the group dissolved again, due to lack of recognition in Austria, JACKie decided to go on her own way, and this time with full determination to fight against all odds. She developed her own personal style marked by an exquisite feeling for figure harmony. She was determined to fight the right as a person regardless of her colour and gender. Being an alien in a country would no longer stop her from pursuing her dreams. She made several educational travels not only to European countries, but also to the American countries (Canada, Mexico, U.S.A.) North Africa, and Asia. From realism, she switched into surrealism with some touch of symbolism and came to place great importance on expressing her imaginations. She would no longer suppressed her feelings for the love of art. Her art is part of her illusions, her desire to bring out snapshots of things in her mind beyond what the eyes could see, and the result is supremacy of pure feeling.

When she went to Manila in 1998, she decided to introduced a modern body painting, which happened to be the first time in the art history of Asia. She combined body painting with performing arts on the stage, and conducted workshops. Her artwork was accepted, and admired internationally. Body painting became then a trend not only in the Philippines, but also in other parts of Asia. Her art exhibit, Theater presentation and all workshops were featured in almost all Philippine Networks and international networks e.g.: CNN, CNBC, BBC WORLD LONDON, Japanese TV. Malaysian TV, Thailand TV. Australian Broad.Co. and some American Networks etc.

The body painting workshops and her art exhibition that were called Body Expressions was one of the most remarkable events in the Philippines in the year 1998. Her name made a strong wave in Philippine art. She could have stayed in the Philippines and continue her art career but decided to came back to Europe and continued her international career.

Since year 2000, she consentrated in painting and participated in different international art fairs in Europe. She was discovered by an International Art Gallery Palma Arte, one of the biggest art gallery in Italy. She had has a regular art exhibition in different international art fairs represented by Palma Arte-Italy. Since then She participated to over 40 different international Art Fairs. In year 2001, She took over the management of AAI (AFRO-ASIAN Institute Gallery) which is now called JMA Gallery. She supports and promote newly emerging artists from different ethnics.

She was included in the encyclopedia of "who is who in Austria" 2005, 20th Edition.