“Bejeweled Landscapes” by Perfecto Palero Jr. exhibits at Galerie Joaquin U.P. Town Center
Show runs from June 17 to 26, 2019
By Grace Ng
Perfecto Palero Jr. has always been completely fascinated by the natural world -- the subtle color changes of a flower, the story that a rock, a tree that is home to various living creatures can tell the earth’s interesting history. Nature cannot be improved upon, but Palero captures a sense of its astonishing beauty and grandeur through his ethereal paintings.
Consciously, the artworks are somewhat inspired by traditional Chinese paintings, specifically the majestic Lu Mountains. Chinese artistic expression has always been deeply imprinted with Palero’s oeuvre. The layers of paint evolve into a unique and one-of-a-kind creation; and jewel tones of color emerges, a fitting representation of the richness of life. The flow of colors is depicted to resemble stone, water or metal, ceramic, or gems. Viewing Palero’s bejeweled take on landscape paintings, it is clear that the artist’s depictions of nature are seldom mere representations of the external world. Rather, they are expressions of the mind and heart of the artist through interpreted visual imagery.
The starkness of the landscape, the relationship of air and water, and recurring images of standing trees and birds, all carry symbolism on a number of levels, both personal and universal.
The exhibit seeks moments of breath-taking transition in nature; when the elements of the landscape combine with the alchemy of imagination. Palero’s paintings aim to capture these fleeting moments in time and reveal the serene center that can arise in the midst of nature’s turbulence in the modern times.
The ability to reproduce a glimpse of what Mother Nature displays for us, is truly a gift Palero wishes to share. His desire is for the viewers to feel the wonder and beauty, the magic and awe in his creations as it is his interpretation of the beauty of the world and the environment that he shares wholeheartedly.
Perfecto “Buboy” G. Palero Jr. (b. 1980) is the President of Mustra, a Morong Rizal Artist Group. Last 2012, Best Western Premier F1 Hotel commissioned Palero, along with 3 other artists, to come up with paintings exclusively for the hotel. The commissioned artists delivered approximately a substantial number of paintings which are now on display in the hotel’s 243 rooms. A semi-finalist at the Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence (MADE) in 2010, Palero’s first solo exhibit titled “Summer Hues” at the Art Gallery of the Philippine Heart Center was awarded “Best Solo Exhibit” during the gallery’s anniversary in 2014.
“Bejeweled Landscapes” will be on view from June 17 to 26, 2019 with the Artist Reception scheduled for Wednesday, June 19 at 6PM. The gallery is located on the 2nd Floor of Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City. For inquiries, contact Galerie Joaquin at (+63)2 247 1109 or email galeriejoaquin@gmail.com.