Reynold Dela Cruz, CJ Tanedo, Robert Besana, Jojo Ramirez
November 13 – December 3, 2021
Art Elaan
2nd Floor, Filipino Village, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, cor Aseana Ave, Parañaque, Philippines
Landline: (02) 7 728-6577
Email: info@artelaan.com / inquiry.artelaan@gmail.com
“You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it… On the other hand, fighting for a thing without loving it is not even fighting.” – G.K. Chesterton
The medieval world boasts of some of the greatest fortresses erected in history, elaborate in their strategic architecture which stretch for more than a hundred miles and are able to withstand multiple sieges, some sieges lasting a good year, others lasting centuries. One of the most popular fortresses, the Great Wall of China was constructed by multiple emperors over 1,000 years. A fortress acts as the marker of one’s territory. Without one, the entire territory is reduced to a soft underbelly inviting exploitation, attack, and its eventual eradication, whether the enemy decides to wipe out the entire community or infiltrate and colonize their identity. A fortress is also a symbol of a civilization’s solidity. For a community to be able to afford a strong fortress speaks of their strength rather than weakness. But more importantly, it speaks of the community’s awareness that what is vulnerable is valuable.
We may not all live within monumental fortresses protected by knights, but as one may find in these trying times, it pays to have a refuge to turn to and a first line of defense against attacks to our wellbeing and everything we hold dear. A fortress can mean different things to people. For some, the word calls to mind imprisonment and isolation, being cut off from the rest of society and living in a bubble. When someone suffers from a fear of trusting others, you might say they have retreated to a “fortress of their own making”, only for others to see it as an invitation to bring it down. As Socrates once said, “Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”
For others, a fortress signifies a conquest that involves a series of tests demanding heroic feats for a treasure difficult to obtain; and human nature tells us time and time again that we want what we can’t have.
Still for others, their efforts to be impenetrable only speaks of having values rather than letting oneself fall for anything. And what can be more valuable than the state of our souls? If we do not erect our own personal fortress, is it possible that we are not aware of the value and vulnerability of our souls?
“Fortress” is a group exhibition featuring the contemporary paintings of Reynold Dela Cruz, CJ Tanedo, Robert Besana, Jojo Ramirez. Each artist draws from their definition of their own personal fortress, be it introspection through art or finding strength through prayer and faith. The series invites the viewers to reflect on what they fight to protect and turn to as their refuge. “Fortress” runs from Nov 13 – Dec 3 at Art Elaan. See you all!
