3 weeks ago
10
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
PAKYAWAN, acrylic on canvas, 24x30 inches, 2025Sonny Palles, one half of the dynamic duo behind “Tales of the Trade,” brought a raw, visceral energy to the exhibit. Together with Patrick Esmao, they captured the everyday struggles and triumphs of Filipino vendors and street dwellers. Palles’ expressive style, a blend of folk sensibilities and modernist distortion, transformed the mundane into the monumental and invited viewers to connect with the heart and soul of his subjects.
MAISAN NI SUSAN, acrylic on canvas, 24x18 inches, 2025Palles, a graduate of Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas and hailing from Calamba, Laguna, spent a significant portion of his career working abroad before returning to his homeland to dedicate himself fully to his art. He currently serves as the Culture and Arts Director at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, demonstrating his commitment to both creating and fostering aspiring artists.
'ANIHAN NG MGA BULAKLAK,' acrylic on canvas,18x24 inches, 2025His contribution to “Tales of the Trade,” which ran until March 20, showcased his deep connection to his roots and his rich desire to celebrate the rich Filipino culture. “Through the exhibit, I hope the viewers were encouraged to celebrate the traditions and culture of the Filipino people through scenes of day-to-day living,” he shares. His works, pulsating with movement and imbued with a tangible sense of history, achieved just that.
'ARAW NG LINGGO (SAMPAGUITA),' acrylic on canvas, 30x24 inches, 2025Palles’ artistic style defies categorization. While he explores elements of Cubism, he transcended its traditional boundaries, employing bold strokes, vibrant colors, and diverse textures to create a unique visual language.
'MANGGA'T SUMAN,' acrylic on canvas, 24x18 inches, 2025The process of creating his pieces was a journey of both inspiration and introspection for Palles. “I love to work when I am at peace and in good condition,” he revealed. “Sometimes it takes me about a week to do an artwork, depending on my mood.” This organic approach to his art allowed him to channel his emotions and experiences into his work, resulting in pieces that were both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Palles drew inspiration from the world around him, finding beauty and meaning in the ordinary. “Sometimes when I am running out of inspiration for a subject or ideas, I go to the market or public places,” he explained. He sought to capture the essence of Filipino life, showcasing “people from all walks of life - art enthusiasts, friends, and strangers, the new generation, a glimpse of the past, like with traditional games, pastimes, and the like. “Through his art, he hopes to 'bring back or relive the old way of life, the simpler times,' reminding us of the importance of tradition in an ever-changing world.
'SA GULAYAN PASILYO,' acrylic on canvas, 24x18 inches, 2025His experiences abroad also played a significant role in shaping his art. “I believe my experiences and time abroad influenced my art in a way that I am inspired to travel more, see new sights, and also immerse in different cultures,” Palles reflected. “It was always interesting to venture abroad and still be finding certain pieces or scenes that reminded me of home.” His travel reinforced his connection to his Filipino identity, allowing him to find “home in our art,” no matter where he may be.
In “Tales of Trade,” Sonny Palles joined forces with Patrick Esmao to offer a dialogue between structure and spontaneity, abstraction and figuration. While Esmao’s geometric abstractions, infused with spiritual depth, elevated the mundane to the transcendental, Palles’ raw and expressive style captured the visceral immediacy of sweat and barter.
'SISTER'S FLOWER HARVEST,' acrylic on canvas,18x24 inches, 2025Patrick Esmao’s contributions to the exhibit were characterized by their precise interplay of forms and layering of subdued tones and metallic accents. His works transformed ordinary scenes into realms of almost celestial significance. The rhythmic arcs and lines in his paintings reflected an unseen order, guiding the viewer through the struggles of everyday life. Though seemingly detached, his compositions held a warmth, a silent acknowledgement of faith and currency in a world of instability.
'TITA HARDINERA,' acrylic on canvas, 24x18 inches, 2025Together, their works created a powerful and moving tribute to the resilience and spirit of the Filipino people, where viewers witnessed the beauty and dignity found in the everyday struggles and triumphs of those who navigated the bustling heart of the city.
“Tales of the Trade” by Sonny Palles and Patrick Esmao ran until March 20 at Galleria Nicolas, 3/F Art Space, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City.
