Symbols and Meanings

The intrepid visual artist Victor Secuya will showcase his celebrated works for “SECUYA: Symbols and Meanings” this June 2021 at Davao City. Presented by the premier gallery for modern and contemporary fine art Galerie Raphael, the exhibition will serve as an inaugural event as the gallery opens its doors in Azuela Cove.

“SECUYA: Symbols and Meanings” will exhibit images that are purely the artist’s as he labors to create paintings that are authentic expressions of his unguarded self.

There are matters that cannot be expressed in any other language – childhood joys and trauma, fears, struggles, and the arduous journey of a committed artist. Victor Cabuga Secuya’s 26th one-man-show is an encapsulation of all these; in simple, anthropomorphic logos, symbols of the artist’s beliefs and convictions, manifestations of the urges and desires from within. They are his physical, mental and spiritual longings and desire for transcendence – of going beyond the mundane.

Secuya’s cultural immersions in several continents helped shape a profound and personal vision of who he is as an artist and what it will take for him to pursue the direction he has decided upon. It continues to enrich the artist’s philosophical view of his own aesthetics. Of the various cultural exposures Secuya has experienced, the one that shook him to the core was his South African sojourn. Klein Kariba, Kruger Park, Cape Town, and Johannesburg captivated him deeply.

For Secuya, there is nothing like African art. It stands out in its distinctive originality and awesome presence. They are devoid of pretensions and full of authentic convictions of who they are. “I owe them big time in my quest for my own identity.” the artist narrates.

Secuya’s subconscious mind, from where his art emanates, are a complex mix of his life experiences, from childhood to education, to readings, travels and relationships, good and bad. They are like dreams released into the canvas - raw and unadulterated. The forms are symbols of meanings – layers and layers that speak of the complex dynamics of Secuya and his psyche.

Victor Cabuga Secuya (b. 1957) is a reclusive personality often misunderstood because of the directness in his people engagements and not- so- rare piercing interrogations that can force one into uncomfortable self-reflection. His former students of Humanities and Philosophy named him a terror, but for those who know him up close and personal, he is a warm guru who desires that every person be the best of himself. He values self-discipline, and while he loves being with people, he treasures solitude, being alone in his studio the most.

Mounting 25 one-man shows all those years is a testament of Secuya’s commitment to his craft. His latest, a sold-out show in a cultural center gallery in Brussels, Belgium, gave him the ultimate confidence as a true artist. His upcoming solo show at Galerie Raphael come June serves as a new beginning, both for the artist and the gallery. As an established artist, Secuya is now a partner of the group of galleries run by Andreas Tuason and Nico Teotico, and the exhibit will serve as Galerie Raphael’s premiering show in its physical branch at Azuela Cove; all of these resulting to an exciting phase of the artist’s career as he continues to create his own brand of aesthetics amidst the vibrant Philippine art scene.

“SECUYA: Symbols and Meanings” by Victor Cabuga Secuya will exhibit at Galerie Raphael, Azuela Cove, Lanang, Davao City from September 26 to October 10, 2021. For inquiries, call (+63) 09988881531 or email galerieraphaeldavao@gmail.com.