Poetics of Place at Rojo Gallery
The Poetics of Place in Two Parts
The Poetics of Place is a two-person exhibition featuring the works of Dominic Escobar and Gerardo Jimenez, two painters who approach landscape and place through distinctly different lenses.
Stanza I: Light on Water (Dominic Escobar)
The Poetics of Place is a two-person exhibition featuring the works of Dominic Escobar and Gerardo Jimenez, two painters who approach landscape and place through distinctly different lenses.
Stanza I: Light on Water (Dominic Escobar)
Dominic Escobar paints impressionistic views of a fishing village he frequently visits in his hometown of Zamboanga. In this new body of work, Escobar expands beyond his use of the Zorn palette toward a warmer range of colors.
His previous works often depicted imagery of fishing folk, local boatmen, and figures quietly navigating calm waters. While those paintings carried a tranquil and contemplative mood, this latest series revisits the same subject matter in a literal and figurative new light.
Escobar's strength lies in his treatment of water—whether rivers or mangrove scenes—which moves in harmony with the rhythms of his subjects. These compositions are further enriched by his careful observation of sunlight, reflections, and shadows, creating paintings that capture both atmosphere and movement.
Stanza II: Places Along the Way (Gerardo Jimenez)
Travel has long been a source of poetic inspiration for Gerardo Jimenez. In this exhibition, he continues his exploration of the space between traditional watercolor painting and printmaking through a series inspired by his recent travels to Japan. Focusing on cafés and bicycles, the works allude to his unhurried approach to travel and to the places encountered on foot or by bicycle.
The picturesque landscapes and street scenes featured in this exhibition are traces of places where Jimenez has wandered, often beyond well-trodden paths. The recurring bicycles serve as reminders of what he describes as slow, deep, and intentional travel.
The works in this exhibition are roughly divided into two groups. The first represents a stage in Jimenez's artistic journey and reflects the manner in which he has approached painting over the past several years. The second marks an unexpected turn in his practice: the introduction of printmaking. Through this encounter, he found a medium that has enriched not only his painting practice but also his broader artistic sensibility.
Many of these newer works incorporate surfaces prepared through printmaking processes, allowing the language of print to intersect with watercolor and expand the expressive possibilities of his paintings.
In both parts, like a poem, each body of work carries its own cadence and character. Together in The Poetics of Place, they form a larger composition—one that celebrates the many ways artists encounter, remember, and paint the places that shape them.
- Marz Aglipay
Poetics of Place was on view at Rojo Galerie from June 26 to July 14, 2026.
His previous works often depicted imagery of fishing folk, local boatmen, and figures quietly navigating calm waters. While those paintings carried a tranquil and contemplative mood, this latest series revisits the same subject matter in a literal and figurative new light.
Escobar's strength lies in his treatment of water—whether rivers or mangrove scenes—which moves in harmony with the rhythms of his subjects. These compositions are further enriched by his careful observation of sunlight, reflections, and shadows, creating paintings that capture both atmosphere and movement.
Stanza II: Places Along the Way (Gerardo Jimenez)
Travel has long been a source of poetic inspiration for Gerardo Jimenez. In this exhibition, he continues his exploration of the space between traditional watercolor painting and printmaking through a series inspired by his recent travels to Japan. Focusing on cafés and bicycles, the works allude to his unhurried approach to travel and to the places encountered on foot or by bicycle.
The picturesque landscapes and street scenes featured in this exhibition are traces of places where Jimenez has wandered, often beyond well-trodden paths. The recurring bicycles serve as reminders of what he describes as slow, deep, and intentional travel.
The works in this exhibition are roughly divided into two groups. The first represents a stage in Jimenez's artistic journey and reflects the manner in which he has approached painting over the past several years. The second marks an unexpected turn in his practice: the introduction of printmaking. Through this encounter, he found a medium that has enriched not only his painting practice but also his broader artistic sensibility.
Many of these newer works incorporate surfaces prepared through printmaking processes, allowing the language of print to intersect with watercolor and expand the expressive possibilities of his paintings.
In both parts, like a poem, each body of work carries its own cadence and character. Together in The Poetics of Place, they form a larger composition—one that celebrates the many ways artists encounter, remember, and paint the places that shape them.
- Marz Aglipay
Poetics of Place was on view at Rojo Galerie from June 26 to July 14, 2026.
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