Benjie Mallari at Galerie Joaquin
Benjie Mallari zooms in and out various periods of our colorful and glorious past — from the 1900s to the Spanish colonial period, from the American colonial period to post-war Manila — in “The Time Traveler: Glimpses of Yesterday,” an online exhibit which is on view until June 24. An online Artist Reception will be held today, June 15, 5 p.m. via Zoom webinar.
Dubbed the “Pearl of the Orient” because of the country’s collection of islands that resembled precious stones, Manila was the envy of neighboring Asian countries because of its European and American colonial-inspired structures. In its prime, Manila boasted of its Art Deco buildings and palatial government offices. The population of the city also grew during this time as people from the provinces migrated to Manila, and ultimately became a center of history and identity. Mallari’s works explore the timeless Filipino identity and its people’s interpersonal relations. Now more than ever, Mallari believes that now is the best time to rediscover our identity, values and faith in ourselves. The details of his oeuvre expose viewers to the realities of our epic past as it progresses to its current situation.
This pandemic is a time of great doubt — people question themselves, doubting their future and destiny. But Filipinos remain warm, hopeful and tenacious. And Manila — then and now — gets back on its feet.
For inquiries, call Galerie Joaquin at 0926-7227925 or email galeriejoaquin@gmail.com.