Tala ng Buhay

“Tala ng Buhay” is Sonny Palles’ second solo exhibition with Galerie Raphael, exploring the tropes of ordinary life set in Filipino custom. Offering a refreshing set of lenses on the overlooked parts of everyday living, Palles serves as a catalyst for paying homage to life’s simplicity, shedding light on the struggles people face for survival.

The exhibition is a continuation of his ongoing dialogue on Filipino genre art, rendered in a heavily textured art style inspired by Cubism. The artist’s compositions are inspired by the everyday lives of the lower class, displaying close-up scenes commonly found in less fortunate areas such as harvesting plants to be sold in the flower market, men at work in a construction site, buying kutsinta and fishballs from peddling vendors on the street, or a father and child bonding over a toy-vehicle made from scrap materials.

Amidst the struggle and chaos these people face daily, Palles paints them vibrantly, excellently matching the scenes with saturated palettes that further the narrative; highlighting the acts displayed in his compositions. This stylistic choice amplifies the people’s resilience, creativity, and adaptability – being able to live a modest life despite everything going against them. Each scene, whether it's the hustle and bustle of a busy marketplace or the quiet moments of familial bonding, is imbued with a sense of humanity and dignity.

About the Artist

Sonny de Leon Palles is a visual artist hailing from Calamba, Laguna. A Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate with a Major in Painting at the University of Santo Tomas, he spent most of his years working abroad until returning to his homeland, intending to retire and fully explore his terrain into the arts. Currently seated as the Culture and Arts Director at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Sonny actively practices his splendid technique and wit for the arts as a passion-turned-career.

Palles’ artistic style exceeds the boundaries that it is commonly predisposed to. He explores the genre of Cubism, yet further surpasses its rules and technicalities by applying bold strokes, enlivened colors, and diverse palettes of texture onto the canvas. As a result, Palles uncovers an oeuvre that is recognizable yet exhilarating to the viewer, leaving a sense of liberty and reintroducing itself as a revitalized form of the classic Filipino tropes and genres.

“Tala ng Buhay” by Sonny Palles will be on view from April 23 – May 4, 2023, with the Artist Reception on April 23, Tuesday at 5 PM. Galerie Raphael U.P. Town Center is located at the 2/F Phase 2, U.P. Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact Galerie Raphael U.P. Town Center at +632 8247 1109 or email galerie.raphael@gmail.com.