Art Theraphy

CEBU, Philippines -  Painting is her refuge. After two brain surgeries, Vicky Zubiri has found therapy in the slow strokes of watercolor. For the cultural advocate and artist, the soft washes and dreamlike forms of the technique is a balm that alleviates the constant pain caused by her damaged nerves.

Painting for decades, Vicky recently presented her second solo exhibit Point of Perspective: Inspired Moments in Chinese and Western Watercolor at The Peninsula Manila.

The 50-piece collection was inspired by the artist's many travels, particularly to Tuscany in Italy. The memorable vacation, which left an indelible mark in her new works, was a gift from her five children-Jose III, Manuel, Miguel, Beatrice, and Stephanie-to celebrate her and husband Jose Zubiri III's golden wedding anniversary. Aside from wistful landscapes, there are detailed still lifes of flowers, fruits, table settings, and even birds that symbolize her wish to take off.

Vicky has always been attuned to art. When she was just a little girl, her mother brought her to the homes of Filipino masters such as Fernando Amorsolo, Vicente Manansala, and Federico Alcuaz. Shortly after, she studied sketching and then proceeded to explore other techniques like charcoal drawing and oil painting under the tutelage of Virgie Diano.

In the 80s, she was introduced to Chinese watercolor through Master Hau Chiok, the renowned painter from the Lignan School of Painting. Today, she continues her education at the Ateneo Confucius Institute for Chinese Art with master painters Alex Chan Lim and Cesar Cheng. Vicky also expands her technique with lessons in Western watercolor under Johnny Ventosa. In all this, it is the challenge of executing precise strokes with a light hand to create ethereal images-it is difficult to amend forms when they are on a canvas of silk or rice paper-that attracts her to watercolor.

Her first solo exhibit, Memories in 2009, supported the charities of Assumption College, her alma mater. For her latest series, Vicky, always the philanthropist, continues the tradition, sharing part of the proceeds to Rayomar Outreach Foundation, an organization that raises funds for other charities such as the Mother Theresa Spinelli Orphanage and the Gawad Kalinga Smokey Mountain Education Project.