Exhibitions

Zooming in on our Glorious Past

Benjie Mallari successfully created his enchanting menagerie of characters and scenes within a historical and contemporary cross-section of the ideal and idyllic life as he zooms in and out of 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. This particular exhibit presents the artist as a time traveler in Manila and the Philippines, a place he is so proud to be a part of.

Many Asian cities have ascribed to be deserving of the monicker “Paris of the East” but none proved more deserving than pre-war Manila. 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.

It was also the time when people imbibed and adhered to the principles of respect and dignity with people displaying high moral standards. Back when there was a manageable population and economy, people lived simply but inexpensively and a peso could buy many things. It was a Manila with no high rises save for intricate and ornately adorned facades. The total population was by the hundred thousands, a tenth or less of today’s. Even automobile accidents were rare because people drove carefully and there was courtesy on the road. The bedlam of tooting horns was also unknown. There were no traffic jams—as cars moved slowly delivering students to schools or picking them up. There was a euphoric crest in the quality of life.

Timeliness of Purpose

Benjie Mallari’s works continue to enthrall because it explores so sincerely the timeless Filipino identity and its people’s interpersonal relations. He urges, now more than ever during these troubled times, that now is time to rediscover our identity, values, and faith in ourselves; a time to revisit our beliefs and the virtues we believe in such as hard work, thrift, industry. Undeniably, behind Mallari’s works lie great complexity and depth. The details of his oeuvre expose viewers to the realities and labyrinths of our epic past as it progresses to its current situation.

This time of the COVID-19 pandemic is a time of great doubt-- a time of our people questioning themselves, doubting our future or our destiny. These are moments of great confusion with many people feeling down. But even though challenged with an unprecedented crisis, Filipinos remain unfailingly warm, their spirit is unswervingly tenacious, and Manila -- then and now – as it has always, get back on its feet.

Benjie Mallari’s artistic sensibilities go back several decades. A former art director of Meralco, he would also moonlight as a cartoonist of the daily opposition paper Ang Pahayagang Malaya during the Marcos dictatorship. Mallari, now based in Baguio, also designed the centennial calendar of National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, and jacket covers of albums of works by National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro. He has a degree in Fine Arts, majoring in Advertising, from the University of the East. “The Time Traveler | Glimpses of Yesterday” is an online exhibit that will run from June 10 to 24, 2020. An online Artist Reception will be held on Monday, June 15, 2020. For more details, please contact Galerie Joaquin through [+63 926 722 79 25] or galeriejoaquin@gmail.com.