'New Day Dawning' on exhibit at Galerie Joaquin BGC

Galerie Joaquin proudly presents “New Day Dawning,” an inaugural exhibition featuring Dominic Rubio’s signature characters of ilustrados, ginoos and ginangs, families from all walks of life, and diligent merchants going about their quotidian activities, which will open at the Galerie’s newest and biggest branch located at One Bonifacio High Street Mall in Taguig.

Aside from Rubio’s depiction of various aspects of Philippine culture, from architecture to Philippine costumes and attire, as well as customs and traditions, the artworks to be exhibited will consist of golden-hued backgrounds, symbolic of a new dawn and, essentially, a new beginning. The exhibition is a representation of ushering in a new day and hence stands for hope and optimism.

In a scholarly essay by Dr. Cañete titled “Dominic Rubio: Valuing Heritage, Mirroring the Self,” he succeeds in identifying one of the main reasons for Rubio’s unprecedented success. He defines it as Rubio’s capability to make his collectors and his public “see themselves” through his works.

Interestingly, although Rubio paints nostalgic scenes depicting our colonial past, he is painting the Filipino of today—resilient, hopeful, and grateful for the family and friends who have been there through thick and thin.

Dr. Cañete keenly underscores that Rubio’s paintings have “struck a deep chord of nostalgia among his publics, who recollect from these paintings memories of their own recent ancestry, as well as the nascent space of national becoming.”

Cañete continues: “Viewers retrieve from his paintings a dialectic sense of individual and collective identification that only help to emphasize the significance of the established present. Three brothers, or common friends, fathers with sons or mothers with toddlers and infants, families with several children, farm owners, merchants, and businessmen can easily see themselves in Rubio’s World. While painting the past, Rubio only succeeds in opening doors for his public to see the present.”

Dominic Rubio, through his art, explores the deeper meanings and themes that surface beyond the mundane depiction of his characters. These range from valuing family relationships, filial piety, or establishing connections between different members of society. An underlying message in his art is harmony and universality. People from all walks of life can and should mingle, promenade, enjoy this earth together—and through his art one will see how despite facing adversity and great difficulty navigating life during a pandemic, there should always be hope and optimism toward a brighter tomorrow.

“New Day Dawning” by Dominic Rubio will be on view at Galerie Joaquin’s newest branch at One Bonifacio High Street Mall until Nov. 15, 2021. Call 0915739 1549 or email [email protected].