Native of Malabon, the oft-dubbed “flood capital” of Metro Manila, the irony is not lost on watercolorist Erwin Mallari who paints seascapes and cityscapes during the rainy weather rendered with the same muted tones, delicate washes, and hyperrealist detail. The result is that both the natural world and the urban jungle are rendered just as nostalgic as the other. For the artist, capturing scenic images of everyday life, moments in time, is an archival practice, a sort of visual diary by which he takes in his surroundings. Mallari’s paintings just might convert you to an outdoor person, braving the rain.
Mallari worked as a graphic designer and product photographer before becoming a full time artist in 2014. He was won awards from Metrobank Art and Design Excellence and Kulay sa Tubig and took part in several exhibits.
