Inside the Heartist's Gallery

12/12/2014 8:28:20 AM

It was a sunny day at the Metro despite numerous weather reports about typhoon Habagat (or locally known as Ruby) when yours truly, along with other invited bloggers, went to the nearby Riverbanks Center as the Marikina City’s premier shopping destination introduced us to their sets of different museums located along the vicinity.

First stop for the morning was the art gallery of the late visual artist Joey Velasco. Numerous artworks depicting a mixture of spiritual and society-related pictures were featured. The gallery became part of the Riverbanks’ Learning Centrum stalls since 2012.

Velasco, the 43-year old businessman-turned-painter gained prominence from his masterpieces including “Hapag Ng Pag-Asa” (Table of Hope), all that despite a threatening health condition five years before his death in 2010.

The 48 x 92 sized Hapag ng Pag-asa was inspired by the famous Last Supper, the difference though is that Velasco put street children in the apostles’ place. And each one of them has its own share of story which stirred the hearts not just the artist, and even the ordinary visitors, but also celebrated personalites such as broadcaster Cheche Lazaro (she produced the documentary-tribute “Cheche Lazaro Presents: Hapag ng Pag-Asa” that aired on ABS-CBN almost eight months ago)

Along the way, “Kambas ng Lipunan” (The Canvas of Society), a 20-minute long documentary made by the artist himself, was shown on the museum’s screen. 

Aside from the Table of Hope and his other paintings, the gallery also showcased the tools and other materials he used for making art.

As we checked his gallery, I can only tell that his works conveys a lot of messages, both society and spiritual-speaking. 

Society-wise, they have shown awareness on how such an unfortunate circumstance called poverty can really struck a person’s childhood and his or her dreams as well.

And on the interpersonal aspect of our lives, it shows how most of us fortunate people were lucky enough to overcame (if not experienced) their fate. On how we should be thankful and at the same time, ponder on what we can do to help the miserable ones.

It was a half-hour of heart-melting experience for me since it’s been a very long while since I once dropped by on an art exhibit. Velasco’s pictures may be very usual nowadays considering if you walk on by along selected streets of the metropolitan area, you will see the same type of children he painted. But on a very serious note, it’s something deeper than you have ever thought of.

Check out my other posts soon as we head on to the Museum of Miniatures, the Spirit of Bethlehem, and the Philippine Science Centrum. Meantime, you can check out http://www.riverbankscenter.com/learning-center/joey-velasco-gallery for further details and reservation. Also, do like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joey-Velasco-Foundation-Inc

Author: slickmaster | © 2014 september twenty-eight productions