“Art is an imitation of reality,” as the saying goes. This is especially true as artists, across time, use inspiration from their own reality— their experiences, what they see, feel, love and treasure, even their emotions, values, and beliefs.
Art tells the story of history in many ways. Initially, before the advent of writing, it was a primary means for humans to record events. In religion, art was used to visualize the divine and to tell stories. As writing developed, it continued to capture moments in history and the lives of important people before cameras. Each one is a time capsule that reflects the reality of the artist and the people in their time.
Gallery Genesis, being one of the pioneering art galleries in Manila, has accumulated an extensive collection of various quality Filipino artwork pieces from different decades.
For instance, the paintings Immunization and National Immunization Day by Teofilo Y. Mendoza are, in a way, historical records of the Philippines’ attempt to eradicate the wild polio disease in 1993. These pieces in the form of abstract art, with their playful and vibrant colors, are a reflection of the victory against the disease through vaccination and other forms of healthcare.
Artwork Details
Title: National Immunization Day
Artist: Teofilo Y. Mendoza
Year: 1993
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 20.5 in x 16.5 in
Another significant example would be Harvest Time (1967) by Sofronio Mendoza. The painting depicts farmers working on their harvest.
This is not the first painting to depict this kind of subject matter. In fact, it is a subject that many Filipino artists love to paint. Artists such as Amorsolo, Juan Luna, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, and many others have their own rendition of a harvest scene. It is a testament to how crucial agriculture is in the Philippines. Moreover, it shows the value of hard work and perseverance– both of which are values important to Filipinos.
Art expresses universal human values (and two which, may I add, AI “art” cannot replicate). Even though each artwork is a product of its time, they are far from being outdated and irrelevant. Art shows how humans are the same no matter what time period, because people are drawn to beauty and the “human touch” each painting has.
Gallery Genesis is an art gallery located on the 2nd floor North Wing, Estancia Mall, Ortigas Center in Pasig City. They are open every day from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Mondays–Thursdays) and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Fridays – Sundays). For inquiries on available vintage paintings for sale and/or upcoming events, you may visit their website at gallerygenesis.ph and check their social media, Gallery Genesis (Facebook) and @gallerygenesis (Instagram).