Dominic Rubio at Qube Gallery

Internationally acclaimed artist Dominic Rubio had his first solo exhibition in Cebu fron April 24 through May 19. Hosted by Qube Gallery, the opening of the exhibit entitled "La Familia Cebuana" was attended by Galerie Joaquin's Group… Managing Director Jack Teotico; Qube Gallery owners Jon Gotiong and Maris Holopainen, local Cebuano artists, art enthusiasts and art collectors, et. al.

Images of colonial grandeur punctuate the works of Rubio. Only in his early 40's, the artist is already considered a master of neo-genre painting. Qube Gallery hosted his first solo exhibition in Cebu, "La Familia Cebuana," where he, as artist, plays the chronicler. Rubio showcased a collection immortalizing many Cebuano heritage spots with his "people types" portraying tradition and everyday practices.

Dominic Rubio was born in Paete, Laguna. A founding member of the Guevarra Group of Artists and a graduate of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts, he has been painting for over two decades now. Intrepid and determined, Rubio continues to evoke nostalgia and whimsy in his paintings. While the feeling of Filipiniana motifs is certainly characteristic, there is also a strong individualist tendency in his works. That articulate vision is neatly encapsulated by the quality of his works and the thematic value of his canvases.

Characterized by brilliantly hued clothes that serve as mirrors of the society at a given time, Rubio's pieces were seemingly the follow-up to the documentation and genre-works of the first Filipino painter Damian Domingo, whose "tipos del pais" or types of the country had paved the way for the flourishing of visual arts in the country back in the Spanish colonial era.

Rubio captures scenes in the daily life of the Filipino the way he sees it. He situates his delicate characters, with thin necks and over-sized heads in familiar backdrops. From scenes of market, the promenade, the after-mass formalities of the 19thcentury classes, Rubio forms a singular vision of romance and wistfulness. The overall feeling is being frozen in time in an idyllic and calm colonial world. The effect is immersive because there is no sense of detachment from his audience. His opuses are a bold attempt to re-animate people's interest in the past and to evoke a sense of national pride and identity that is seemingly becoming lost.

This artist is a favorite of major collectors from all over the globe and has had sold out exhibitions in Asia, North America, and Europe. Rubio has been lauded for his ability to paint the past as present.