For Filipino artist Rico Lascano, art is a lifelong conversation. It is a commitment to contemplative art-making that has led to his 20th one-man exhibit, “Inner Journey” at Art Camp, Greenbelt 5, Makati City. The show was a showcase of his abstract works created over an eight-year period, from 2017 to 2025.

Rico described each piece as a “quiet meditation” that invited viewers to witness a personal and evolving dialogue through subtle shifts in form, color, and texture. He believed this body of work served as a testament to consistency, introspection, and the enduring power of abstract art to express the inner landscapes of the self.

Deeply rooted in a disciplined engagement with abstract art and Oriental philosophy, Rico’s works were significantly inspired by nature. In his creative process, he noted that forms “cease to be forms and become feelings and atmospheres” as he translated them onto canvas. His art was an intuitive response to the spiritual energy of nature, and the “Inner Journey” collection delves into themes of stillness, silence, and the contemplative depths of the inner self.

As a faculty member at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, Rico’s work has been featured in several publications, including “The Best of World Art” and “Philippine Art and Beyond.” His paintings have been exhibited internationally in cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Vancouver, New York, and Berlin. One of the most memorable experiences in his career, according to Rico, was the realization that his work was appreciated by Claude-Michel Schonberg of “Les Misérables” and “Miss Saigon.” When asked if he has a favorite piece in the exhibit, Rico responded, “I don’t have a favorite. As a father has a child born of his flesh, my paintings are children of my soul.”

The exhibit also highlighted the importance of collaboration in Rico’s journey. He credits his wife Chachu as an important part of and companion on his path. An avid practitioner of Ikebana and Haiku, she has greatly influenced many of the works in the collection.

Rico’s exhibit “Inner Journey” created a space of solitude to resist the noise of contemporary life and engaged the viewers in a ritual of stillness. His works, with their gentle gestures and profound depth, encouraged quiet reflection and a connection to the inner self.