Rosscapili’s emotive approach to abstraction

MANILA, Philippines - Abstract artist Rosscapili mounts a one-man show to celebrate his 40 years as an artist.

Rosscapili has had over 30 one-man exhibitions — in France, the US, Malaysia and the Philippines — in a variety of media, including painting, photography, and digital art. He has also accumulated at least 57 awards and distinctions, including the Jurors’ Choice in the 1994 Philip Morris Asean Art Awards, the 2001 Pamana ng Lahi Award in San Francisco, USA, and the 2009 Ani Ng Dangal Presidential Award.

In “IlluminEssence” — an exhibit organized by Galerie Joaquin which opens on Sept. 23 at the Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing Atrium— Capili attempts to explore the interplay between abstract composition and emotion. Sixteen new works of acrylic mixed media (including six acrylic sheetglass “night light” oven-baked sculptures) will be on view to demonstrate the artist’s philosophy.

“My philosophy in abstraction,” says Capili, “goes beyond the paint drips and paint splashes. The viewer can see the surface, splashes of paint, the thick impasto of application, bright attractive colors or the absence of colors, and the beauty of the frame. There is more to art than that.”

Capili, who has discovered a more spiritual dimension in the execution of his abstracts, explains, “I don’t confine or limit myself to traditional media, traditional tools or what was learned from school. What I try to paint as abstract are the underlying emotion of the artist and the spirituality behind my subjects. In my work there is always the challenge whereby the artist has to control the medium, and not let the medium control him.”

This declaration is in keeping with the strong influences of controlled abstraction that form the essence of the artist’s vision.

For information, call 723-9418 or email info@galeriejoaquin.com.