Reaching above and beyond the rudiments of art and architecture, esteemed artist Patrick Esmao is set to mount his 6th one-man show at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell this March 1 to 11, 2024. 

“Threads of Time” reintroduces landscapes through the medium of acrylic and thread – two fundamental elements in his distinctive practice. A preview was held to show the media and select guests a first glimpse on the change in his subject and approach.

Esmao is an interdisciplinary artist hailing from Baras, Rizal. Treading the line between industrial drafting and commercial arts, his degree in Industrial Education – Major in Drafting at the University of Rizal System earned him the skill set to interlace the two fields, creating an art style consisting of landscapes and cityscapes rendered in metallic stitchings that form geometrical patterns, coined as ‘geometrical paintings’. 

Having no formal training in art, Esmao began as a drafting teacher in 2008. With a full-time teaching career and a part-time art practice, he broke his 13-year streak when he resigned in 2021 to strive for art as a lifelong pursuit. 

“There’s no rulebook when it comes to pursuing the arts,” Esmao states. Earning his stripes, the artist has participated in well-received multiple solo and group exhibitions. His works have also been included in several art magazines and coffee table books.

Transitioning and achieving a pivotal shift from his acclaimed silhouettes of cityscapes and skyscrapers, Esmao shares that his latest vision of landscapes are inspired by his recent obsession with art history. “I decided to do a different subject to explore other shapes and forms of representation,” Esmao states. 

In this exhibit, geometric imitations of the desert and ruins are strategically rendered into their core elements, deriving perspectives anew where viewers glimpse into an elusive world of two-dimensional impressions. His solid groundwork in Technical Drawing shines through, with an adept skill set that harmoniously entwines technical approach with artistic freedom.

“A simple change in the shape of a subject can really create and transform a whole new set of images,” Esmao comments. In fact, the artist explores irregular shapes to further define the landscapes’ rugged contours, thoroughly illustrated by strategically-stitched metallic threads that not only add dimensional depth and structure, but also elevate his sublime composition.

What’s most captivating about the geometric patterns is its ability to retain familiarity from their original subjects, with entrancing color palettes that give a nod to their references. The artist adds, “A cactus has a defined form, so it's easier to reduce them into geometric patterns to maintain some familiarity.”

What has given him constant acclaim is his signature style of stitching in his works. His designs of stitching metallic thread onto the canvas is derived from his industrial background and artistic passions, with acrylic and thread as his bread and butter. Esmao is an unparalleled talent in the age of modern and contemporary, as the artist excels in the area of commercial arts where he developed his knowledge in colors, composition, design principles, and self-expression through visual media.

In essence, “Threads of Time” is an ardent exploration of history’s greatest treasures, a visual retelling of archival keepsakes that quartered important events in time. Through Esmao’s perspective, viewers are refreshed to see pieces of history depicted in an unparalleled art style, pulling the strings by redefining their elements down to its core basics. “The idea of lost traditions and art making inspires how we try to put together the remains, to make meanings out of it. From the temples in Athens to the tombs in the desert, these are images that I think work well with my art style,” Esmao concludes.

“Threads of Time” will be exhibited March 1 to  11, 2024 at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell, R3 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City