Cover ‘When the Sails Go By’ (Photo: Galeria Paloma)
‘When the Sails Go By’ (Photo: Galeria Paloma)
1 / 1
An exhibition of sculpture, paintings, and digital work by Carlos titled ‘Stop.Motion’ is set to pique your artistic curiosities
This coming July 7-9, the artist Carlos, known for his bright, colourful, and joyful canvases, will again grace the art scene with his presence. Through Galeria Paloma, the artist will present a new set of his works in Stop.Motion, an exhibition set up at the North Court of Power Plant Mall, Makati.
Stop.Motion highlights the artist’s sculptures, the first medium he used when he began his career in the 1980s. The sculptures evoke emotion: the loving bond between fathers and sons, mothers and children, and camaraderie among workers—showing the nobility of work.
In case you missed it: The Colours of Carlos Rocha
Carlos’ signature colourful pieces will be displayed together with his collection of animated paintings motion-designed by IJ Cacnio.
Above Carlos Rocha
Carlos Rocha
1 / 1
Why the need to focus on sculptures?
This exhibition puts a spotlight on Carlos’ sculpture-making.
“I started creating sculptures in my spare time in the 1980s, more purposefully than I did previously, in which it was a minor hobby,” says the artist, explaining his first foray into the craft. “When I switched to being a full-time artist over twenty years ago, I focused mainly on paintings. I produced fewer sculpture pieces, except for commissioned projects. But I never tired of making them.”
He adds, “I always tried to find the best materials to suit what I wanted to create. Doing so, I have found my materials in resin and steel.” Through resin, the piece is given body, texture, and layers; with steel as its skeletal structure, the artist captures a precise moment in the figure’s motion, conveying a wide range of actions.
Above The Harvest (15.5 in x 46 in x 15 in)
Above The Casting (21 in x 29 in x 60 in)
The Harvest (15.5 in x 46 in x 15 in)
1 / 2
Above The Catch (21.5 in x 40 in x 13 in)
Above El Torero (8 in x 18 in x 49 in)
The Catch (21.5 in x 40 in x 13 in)
1 / 2
On the artist’s humble beginnings
Around the middle of the 1980s, his wife was the owner of Galeria Mia, a gallery along Pasay Road—currently known as Arnaiz Avenue.
While the gallery carried artworks by then-contemporary artists Arturo Luz, Jose Joya, and a rising star named Lao Lianben, the gallery also supported younger, up-and-coming artists in the field of visual arts. Carlos, who had always been the artistic one in the family, was encouraged by his wife to sell the sculpture he had been working on. They didn’t expect the warm reception her clients would have towards his sculptures.
This eventually sparked his devotion to art.
More from Tatler: Why is Mid-Century Modern Design Still Popular to This Day?
Above Blue Cafes and Red Umbrellas
Above Young Hearts at an Old Cafe
Blue Cafes and Red Umbrellas
1 / 2
Above The Challenge
Above Deep Fascination
The Challenge
1 / 2
His sculptures always have been of men and women at work: fishermen, vendors, bullfighters, and the like.
He also creates pieces depicting fathers and sons, mothers and their children, all of which were designed to be in the middle of a motion, which take his sculptures beyond being “statue-like”.
Above The Magic in Music
Above Finding Magic
The Magic in Music
1 / 2
Carlos wanted the works to feel alive and exude emotions like the love between family members or the camaraderie developed in working with others. His pieces depicting people at work were never about the toil of labour but the nobility of and pride in work.
The exhibition, slated for July 7-9, will be held at the North Court of Power Plant Mall and will feature paintings and digital work by Carlos, with a special focus on works of sculpture, the medium he first embarked on as an artist. For more information, please visit artbycarlos.com/about and galeriapaloma.com.
NOW READ
Take a peek at National Artist Abdulmari Imao’s works through ‘A Life Without Borders’
Andres Barrioquinto on expanding his reach as a visual artist
All about the second edition of Modern and Contemporary Art Festival 2023
Credits
Artwork: Carlos Rocha
Images: Galeria Paloma
Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
