Eugene Dominguez
Opening
April 7, 2024 | 2pm
Secret Fresh Gallery
Ronac Art Center, Ortigas Ave, 1502 San Juan, Philippines
To reach a flow state in a moment of stillness is sublime.
Eugene Dominguez endeavors to live this concept out in Daloy. In this presentation, he reinvigorates his insistence on the importance of rest and its benefits towards the development of a fruitful life.
Equipped with symbols and imagery close and comfortable to him, a central figure which is a self portrait, from a closed to a now opened walls revealing the vast expanse outside, and personal effects signifying deep introspection on the self, Dominguez tells a story borne from a once protected, if not isolated interior to that of an invitation to let the outside in and vice versa.
With an adept grasp at the techniques he is honing, each work proves to be a testament to a balance between hard work and intentioned rest. The main works evoke stillness and contemplation, a manifestation of a continuous journey of self discovery, his portraits depict a sense of knowing, of what – remains a mystery. Having a renewed mindset of what he wants to tackle in his work, the once restrictive walls have been cut in half or taken down altogether as if saying that he is ready to take on what’s next. His recent explorations on the imagery of drapery alludes to his concept of ‘paghuhubog’ (shaping, forming) and he says that they have become meditation pieces that are fruits of long labor. The drapery itself another signifier of the ever-present concept of rest, adding more depth and possible interpretations.
He mentions that there is a play on words recurring in the titles of his exhibitions, in this case ‘daloy’ (flow) has within it the word ‘dalo’ (presence, to attend). Through this he introduces layers to the meaning and essence of his works. Dominguez intends for his works to be an opening for his viewers to see what flow looks like to him and at the same time let them be participants in the act of being present and in the moment.
-Jerome Destacamento
