Grounded Traditions

“Grounded Traditions” is a three-man exhibition that takes viewers to the past through historic vignettes of daily life in the Philippines. Visual artists James Gabito, Jun Rocha, and Eric Masangkay present scenes from small towns and their everyday people — merchants selling their wares and daily harvests at the market, fishermen hauling in fresh catch, and townsfolk going about their days.

Each interpretation of the history of town life and everyday labor is crafted with the artists’ unique styles and mediums creating a diverse and colorful retrospective on Filipino heritage. James Gabito’s distinctive brush strokes and lively color palettes form compositions that pull from the collective memory of fiestas and heritage towns. He creates festive scenes of merchants selling their bountiful harvests under canopies of colorful banderitas and families taking strolls across church plazas.

Jun Rocha’s paintings depict merchant women in markets and fields, capturing their grace and poise despite their hard work. His art highlights the traditional ideals of Filipino femininity, showing that their womanhood complements rather than contrasts their perseverance and industriousness, key aspects of the Filipino spirit.

Sculptor Eric Masangkay’s deft manipulation of mixed metals allows him to create unique figures of everyday Filipinos. Masangkay captures and exaggerates the energy of a motion pushing the overall dynamism of distinct moments. The result is sculpted moments of day-to-day activities and interactions frozen in time.

As viewers navigate through “Grounded Traditions,” they are invited to reflect on the enduring traditions that make the local culture distinctly Filipino. Be it historical landmarks, local practices, or traits and values, each of these societal aspects is grounded on the withstanding Filipino culture that undercuts both the historical and modern-day landscape. At the core of this exhibition is the deep-seated appreciation and love for the culture and an ode to the indomitable Filipino spirit.

“Grounded Traditions” by James Gabito, Jun Rocha, and Eric Masangkay runs from August 13 – 25 at Galerie Raphael U.P. Town Center. The gallery 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 uptcgalerieraphael@gmail.com.