Reaching above and beyond the rudiments of art and architecture, “Threads of Time” will be presented by interdisciplinary artist Patrick Esmao at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell from 1 to 11 March.
“Threads of Time” reintroduces landscapes through the medium of acrylic and thread — two fundamental elements in Esmao’s distinctive practice. A preview of his works was recently held to show the media and select guests the artist’s interesting subject and approach.
Hailing from Baras in Rizal, Esmao treads the line between industrial drafting and commercial arts after finishing Industrial Education major in Drafting at the University of Rizal System. Esmao nurtured his skill set to interlace the two fields, creating an art
style consisting of landscapes and cityscapes rendered in metallic stitching that form geometrical patterns — coined as “geometrical
paintings.”
Transitioning and achieving a pivotal shift from his acclaimed silhouettes of cityscapes and skyscrapers, Esmao shares that his latest vision of landscapes is inspired by his recent obsession with art history.
“There’s no rulebook when it comes to pursuing the arts,” Esmao states.
Having no formal training in art, Esmao began as a drafting teacher in
2008. With a full-time teaching career and a part-time art practice, he broke his 13-year streak when he resigned in 2021 to strive for art as a lifelong pursuit. Earning his stripes, the artist has participated in well-received multiple solo and group exhibitions. His
works have also been included in several art magazines and coffee table books.
“I decided to do a different subject to explore other shapes and forms of representation,” Esmao says.
Geometric imitations of the desert and ruins are strategically rendered into their core elements, deriving perspectives anew where
viewers glimpse into an elusive world of two-dimensional impressions.
“What’s most captivating about the geometric patterns is their ability to retain familiarity from their original subjects, with entrancing color palettes that give a nod to their reference,” he says.
His solid groundwork in Technical Drawing shines through, with an adept skill set that entwines technical approach with artistic freedom.
“A cactus has a defined form, so it’s easier to reduce them into geometric patterns to maintain some familiarity,” he adds.
The artist explores irregular shapes to further define the landscapes’ rugged contours, thoroughly illustrated by strategically stitched metallic threads that not only add dimensional depth and structure but
also elevate his sublime composition.
“A simple change in the shape of a subject can create and transform a whole new set of images,” he says.
In the age of modern and contemporary, Esmao excels in the area of commercial arts where he developed his knowledge in colors, composition, design principles and self-expression through visual media.
“The idea of lost traditions and art making inspires how we try to put together the remains, to make meanings out of it. From the temples in Athens to the tombs in the desert, these are images that I think work well with my art style,” says Esmao.
In essence, “Threads of Time” is an exploration of history’s greatest treasures, a visual retelling of archival keepsakes that quartered important events in time. Through Esmao’s perspective, viewers are refreshed to see pieces of history depicted in an unparalleled art style, pulling the strings by redefining their elements down to their core basics.