Exhibitions

Next week marks Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent—a season that ultimately culminates in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this season, many people look upon the crucifix as a sign of sacrifice, repentance, and faith. Originally a form of capital punishment in the ancient Roman world, the crucifix has since become the very symbol Christianity, and a central reference point in Christ’s narrative of salvation. Throughout the history of Western Art, the crucifix has appeared as a recurring motif, in different media, forms, and permutations. Early Church art used it in combination with the ichthys, or the symbol of the fish, in the catacombs of Rome. During Renaissance Europe, it was depicted by Masters such as Michaelangelo and Raphael (whose painting, “The Mond Crucifixion,” was painted as an altarpiece in his home town of Urbino in Italy). Even seemingly secular and humanist Modernists depicted the crucifix, such as Salvador Dali (“Corpus Hypercubus”) and Francis Bacon (“Figures at the Base of Crucifixes”).

For over two millennia, the cross of Christ has endured as a powerful mark of faith. Despite gruesome origins, a kind of catharsis that has the faithful enamored in blessed penitence. The symbol of the crucifix has led the late sculptor Eduardo Castrillo (b. 1942; d. 2016) to create an entire series of sculptors dedicated to the redemptive power of the crucifix. Known for his massive monuments such as the People's Power Monument along EDSA, the deeply spiritual Castrillo paid homage to his faith when he crafted these works.

A few of these rare, deeply personal pieces find their way in a special exhibition, entitled "Benedictus Paenitentiae" at Galerie Joaquin’s Pop-Up Gallery, Ground Floor, 8 Rockwell at the Rockwell Center in Makati. Opening on 1 March (Ash Wednesday), the exhibit not only demonstrates the immense skill and talent of one of the country's foremost artist, it also brings our focus back to the real meaning of the cross, and the core tenets of Christianity--an exploration into what it means to be Christian.

For more information, please contact Galerie Joaquin at +632 7239418 or visit www.galeriejoaquin.com The exhibits runs at 8 Rockwell from March 1-13.