Dominic Rubio at Galerie Joaquin

MANILA, Philippines - Dominic Rubio mounts “La Familia Filipina,” currently on view at Galerie Joaquin.

The artist uses nostalgia in the treatment of his subjects and the colonial contexts he places them in. A dynamic character painter, his subjects are of a historical leaning and therefore wear the details of their historical time-period — costumes, equipment, and even the backgrounds of churches and other colonial buildings all conform to an idyllic reimagining of the past.

Art critic Cid Reyes once said of Rubio’s practice: “Arresting is the punctilious application of pigment and the delineation of the figures…technically adept, Rubio displays impressive workmanship.” It’s an attempt to seize that idyllic moment in time: in this case a very dreamy idea of turn-of-the-century Philippine society.

Galerie Joaquin is at 371 P. Guevarra Street corner Montessori Lane, Addition Hills, San Juan, Metro Manila. For information, call 723-9418 or visit www.galeriejoaquin.com.