In line with the celebration of Philippine National Arts Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen successfully launched the “Art in Assertionism” exhibition of Ireneo “Rene” Robles, Jr., an internationally renowned and award-winning Filipino visual artist at Xiamen Art Gallery’s Small Gallery on 09 February 2018, which ran until 21 February 2018.
The exhibit, featuring 50 original art works of Mr. Robles in the cavernous 600-sq meter gallery, is his first show in China. He is the first Filipino visual artist to be featured at the Xiamen Art Gallery.
Mr. Robles pioneered the award-winning movement and style called “Assertionism” in the US which has the “power to assert, transform and transcend” the importance of ordinary objects in human existence (like light bulbs, chairs, doors, electric fans, etc.) into the extraordinary.
Among the VIP guests who attended the opening were Acting Consul General Mongkol Sinsomboon and Consul Ropharat Aphijanyatham of Royal Thai Consulate in Xiamen; Ms. Yvonne Lee, Consul, Singapore Consulate General in Xiamen; Mdm. Chen Juan, Director, Xiamen Art Gallery and Mr. Bai Lei, former Xiamen Art Gallery Director and prominent Chinese calligrapher/painter in Fujian. Other guests include members of Filipino and Chinese business sector, media, academe and other friends and contacts.
Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores expressed appreciation to Mr. Robles for his valuable contribution in the promotion of Philippine arts and culture through the successful staging of the exhibition as well as to the Xiamen Art Gallery for opening its doors to Filipino artists.
Mr. Robles gifted his painting, “The Love” to Xiamen Art Gallery as a gesture of appreciation and friendship which will form part of the Gallery’s permanent collection.
The Exhibit was organized with the valuable support of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. – Youth Committee as part of the Consulate General’s cultural diplomacy thrusts as well as a contribution to the celebration of 2018 Philippine National Arts Month, themed “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining” (Harvest of the Arts, Flame of Art).
Various media outfits covered the event including Xiamen TV, China Radio International (CRI) - Beijing and Southeast Net.
For more information, visit www.dfa.gov.ph, www.facebok.com/dfaphl and @dfaphl on Twitter. END
