Filipino artist, educator, and cultural advocate Eleazar Abraham “Abe” L. Orobia redirects our gaze to the animal kingdom with his latest exhibit “They Have Families Too.” Running until June 24 at Art Verite, Orobia’s latest work is a heartfelt and timely plea for deeper appreciation and protection of wildlife, serving as a reminder that, despite outward difference, all living creatures, share the fundamental and profound experience of family.

Orobia’s connection to animals runs deep, rooted in a childhood spent in rural Muntinlupa, where he befriended ducks, chickens, geese, and even carabaos. This early immersion, coupled with a formative introduction to National Geographic, ignited a lifelong passion. “I’ve been drawing and painting animals since the age of five,” Orobia shares.

The exhibit’s title “They Have Families Too,” serves as its core message. Orobia deliberately chose this theme to highlight the intricate social structures and familial bonds prevalent in the animal kingdom, paralleling those found in human society. His works, composed of his signature upcycled metal sheets crafted from emptied paint tubes, this time as metaphors for the human-like capacities of animals to relate and interact,” he explains. These materials, typically discarded, are given new life, symbolizing “an ode to adaptability and growth despite the harshness off their habitat.” Floating light orbs within the exhibit further evoke the primal instincts that drive these creatures: social bonding, cooperation, territoriality, and crucially, self-preservation.

A distinct feature in the exhibit is Orobia’s collaboration with acclaimed international wildlife photographers Yaron Schmid, Maeghan Garrahan, Roie Galitz, and Dr. Cesar Espritu. This partnership began with a simple yet impactful approach. “I messaged them and introduced myself as an artist whose recent series is about wildlife conservation and appreciation, and asked permission to use some of their photos, to which they agreed,” Orobia recounts. He describes the transformation process as a synergy: “Their photos are faithful observations captured through their lenses while I transformed it into a more unified and poetic message using my artistic vision and narrative.”

For Orobia, art is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a potent tool for advocacy. As an educator, he firmly believes in the words of David Attenborough, “If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it. Through my art, I am advocating to live and care for nature.” He also emphasizes the concept of kapwa, extending its meaning to all living creatures. “Kapwa means seeing ourselves in others. Kapwa means all living creatures on the planet,” he states. “If we humanize wildlife, maybe we can be better stewards of this world.

Beyond the powerful message, Orobia champions sustainability in his practice. The upcycled paint tubes, a recurring motif in his work since 2017, are a testament to this commitment. “Imagine if I don’t upcycle it? It will surely end up in landfills,” he points out. While acknowledging that his contribution may seem “simplistic,” he firmly believes that “it is simple acts of kindness that keep things in check. Planetary health must also be our priority, and this includes wildlife.”

While he doesn’t play favorites among his creations, believing “all creatures are equal to me because each portrays a balance in their respective ecosystems, Orobia admits a particular enjoyment in crafting “Mother’s Love” and” Groom and Play.” His personal experience adopting stray cats informed these pieces, observing their interactions and affections. “Mostly by grooming each other and touching noses. Cheetahs are considered domestic cats of the wild. They even have the same meow sounds as house cats.”

A typical day in Orobia’s studio begins with rigorous intellectual groundwork. “I spent majority of the time researching and conceptualizing on my chosen narrative,” he reveals. This involves meticulously documenting ideas, exploring word analogies, and connecting philosophical thoughts to wildlife. Only after satisfying his conceptual framework does he move to sketching and image selection. “I consider myself as a symbolist and poetic,” he says, a sensibility clearly evident in the evocative narrative woven throughout “They Have Families Too.”

The exhibit is a call to action, urging viewers to recognize the sentence, social complexity, and familial essence of animals. “Humans and animals are more alike than we may admit,” Orobia reminds us. “‘They Have Families Too’ is more than an exhibit. It is a quiet but profound reminder that animals are not lesser beings. We are interconnected, not only through ecosystems or intrinsic bonds, but through ephemerality.”

“They Have Families Too” runs until June 24 at ART VERITE, 2nd floor, The Shops, Serendra, BGC.