Basking in Serenity

Richard Perez has been challenging the artistic landscape with his unorthodox methods. For “Basking in Serenity”, the artist presents stylized renditions of an inhabited environment, primarily focusing on the execution of the concept with his distinguished artistic practices.

For Perez, the works are a fully-realized representation of his well-known medium – creating an interconnected world with the distinctive use of textured thread. Carefully placing layers of acrylic upon layers of the material to illustrate a silhouette culled from landscape imagery, Perez effectively visualizes unique texture and intensity onto his canvases. Every thread he applies adds greater depth and contrast to the universal concept, ultimately revolutionizing its portrayals in the artistic field. “Landscape is traditional. I want to present this subject from a different perspective … It’s a visual presentation on bringing this subject to another level,” Perez mentions.

In essence, “Basking in Serenity” is Richard Perez’s fluid representation of a wilderness spiritually charged with the power of human intellect and creativity. His use of the combined materials is a testament to the artist’s deep affinity and oneness with nature. Perez symbolizes notions of interconnectedness between nature and its inhabitants; weaving the mysticism of an imagined wilderness, wherein the human spirit is the binding force.

Richard Perez is a visual artist hailing from Bicol. Known for using different mediums such as pastel, watercolor, pen and ink, oil and acrylic, yarns and nails, and other forms of mixed media, his latest artistic venture includes acrylic painting on a thread-textured canvas.

During his career, he was an in-house artist of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan for four years. Perez then returned to Bicol where he paints in his studio in Naga, Camarines Sur and conducted several art tutorials and workshops, especially during the summer seasons. He has done commissioned 3D wall murals in Metro Manila, Bicol, and Agusan del Norte, Mindanao.

Perez has received several awards from both international and national competitions. He was a finalist in the 2012 GSIS National Art Competition and an honorable mention the following year, both for the non-representational category. He was also a finalist in the 2015 AAP (Art Association of the Philippines) National Painting Competition, a finalist in the 2016 Manila Bulletin Sketchfest, and was the 2015 Best in Mixed Media Awardee at "Tune of Art" International Art Festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He also became a finalist in the 2019 GSIS National Art Competition (mixed media category).

Perez has participated in more than fifty group shows in the Bicol region and twenty group shows in Metro Manila’s most reputable galleries, with the notable ones including the 2022 Brave New World book project and group exhibition at Art Plus Magazine, and the 2022 Emerald Year group exhibition at Galerie Joaquin.

“Basking in Serenity” by Richard Perez will be on view at Galleria Nicolas Greenbelt from July 20 – 31, 2023 with an Artist Reception on July 25, Wednesday at 5 PM. Galleria Nicolas Greenbelt is located at 3F, Greenbelt 5, Legazpi Street, Makati City. For inquiries, contact Galleria Nicolas at +63 936 225 1226 or email at gallerianicolasgreenbelt@gmail.com.