Rene Robles’ “Art in Assertionism” Exhibit Opens in Xiamen
Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores (center), led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of the “Art in Assertionism” Exhibit on the works of Mr. Rene Robles (3rd from left), with VIP guests (from left) Ms. Yvonne Lee, Consul, Consulate General of Singapore, Mdm. Chen Juan, Director, Xiamen Art Gallery, Mr. Yang Minghui of Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. – Youth Committee, Acting Consul General Mongkol Sinsomboon, Royal Thai Consulate and Mr. Bai Lei at the Xiamen Art Gallery on 09 February 2018.
27 February 2018 XIAMEN — In line with the celebration of Philippine National Arts Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen launched the “Art in Assertionism” exhibition of Ireneo “Rene” Robles, Jr., an internationally renowned and award-winning Filipino visual artist at Xiamen Art Gallery’s Small Gallery on 09 February 2018. The exhibit ran until 21 February 2018.
The exhibit, featuring 50 original art works of Mr. Robles displayed in the 600-sq meter gallery, is his first show in China. He is the first Filipino visual artist to be featured at the Xiamen Art Gallery.
Mr. Robles pioneered the award-winning movement and style called “Assertionism” in the US which has the “power to assert, transform and transcend” the importance of ordinary objects in human existence (like light bulbs, chairs, doors, electric fans, etc.) into the extraordinary.
Among the VIP guests who attended the opening were Acting Consul General Mongkol Sinsomboon and Consul Ropharat Aphijanyatham of Royal Thai Consulate in Xiamen; Ms. Yvonne Lee, Consul, Singapore Consulate General in Xiamen; Mdm. Chen Juan, Director, Xiamen Art Gallery and Mr. Bai Lei, former Xiamen Art Gallery Director and prominent Chinese calligrapher/painter in Fujian. Other guests include members of Filipino and Chinese business sector, media, academe and other friends and contacts.
Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores expressed appreciation to Mr. Robles for his valuable contribution in the promotion of Philippine arts and culture through the successful staging of the exhibition as well as to the Xiamen Art Gallery for opening its doors to Filipino artists.
Mr. Robles gifted his painting, “The Love” to Xiamen Art Gallery as a gesture of appreciation and friendship which will form part of the Gallery’s permanent collection.
The exhibit was organized with the valuable support of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. – Youth Committee as part of the Consulate General’s cultural diplomacy thrusts as well as a contribution to the celebration of 2018 Philippine National Arts Month, themed “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining” (Harvest of the Arts, Flame of Art).
Various media outfits covered the event including Xiamen TV, China Radio International (CRI) - Beijing and Southeast Net.
Per Proclamation No. 683 dated 28 January 1991, February of each year was declared “National Arts Month.” This year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining (Harvest of the Arts, Flame of the Arts)” aims to emphasize the bounty of artistic endeavors in the Philippines and the passion of Filipino artists and cultural workers. END
For more information, visit www.xiamenpcg.dfa.gov.ph.
Left photo: Rene Robles (center) receives the Certificate of Donation from Mdm. Chen Juan, Director, Xiamen Art Gallery (right) while Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores looks on. Right photo: “Love”, a 4 x 4 feet medium acrylic on canvas masterpiece by Rene Robles donated to Xiamen Art Gallery.
Guests tours around the paintings at the 600-square meter exhibition hall at Xiamen Art Gallery.