CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACTS TAKE CENTERSTAGE
Rustan’s For The Arts launches first exhibit in 2020
With the continuing success of the Rustan’s for the Arts series, which has highlighted the
collections of world-class Filipino artists Ben Cabrera, Al Perez, Paulina Luz Sotto, Fernando
Amorsolo, Arturo Luz, and Anita Magsaysay Ho, the spotlight on its first exhibit of the year is
on the contemporary works of abstract artist Gig de Pio.
Rustan’s has organized a recently-held affair to launch ‘Flourishing,’ a celebration of
creativity featuring De Pio’s latest works, where several pieces were created specifically for
the Rustan’s For The Arts. In attendance to the gathering were Cid Reyes, Gus Albor,
Junyee, Al Perez, Dante Silverio, Heber Bartolome, Louie Locsin, Lior Liechtenstein, Lyn
Gamboa, Celia Molano, Malee Bigornia, Richie Macapinlac, and Ross Capili, to name a few.
The collection is a movable visual feast, which can be viewed at Rustan’s Makati until March
31, 2020, and will move to Rustan’s Shangri-La in April. The paintings reflect the award-
winning artist’s view of the world that makes order out of chaos.
The artist, who made his studies from materials that society has deemed as disposable,
describes his collection as an appreciative view of the universe. “It is a matter of perception
and where point of reference is; just a matter of finding gestalt in the random of things and
events around the perceiver,” says De Pio. His abstracts on display, which includes an
“installation painting” piece, illustrates the randomness of occurrences and encounters at
intersections, which may happen repeatedly to become events.
Among his mentors were National Artist Napoleon Abueva who was his professor for
sculpture, National Artist Vicente Manansala whom he assisted for the mural at the Coconut
Planters Bank building, and Jose Joya whom he assisted for the mural at the Philippine
International Convention Center (PICC). De Pio has mounted several successful shows
including a solo at The Crucible.
For more information please visit rustans.com or follow @rustansph on Instagram or Facebook.
