Artists Farley del Rosario and Carlo Ongchangco join forces in “ICONS: The Stories We Grew Up With,” a two-man exhibition that explores the playful, poignant, and often surreal realm of memory and identity through familiar icons of childhood and pop culture, recognizable to viewers across different generations. The show explores how icons—both global and personal – shape imagination and allow viewers to revisit the characters and narratives that were part of their childhood and adolescence.
Del Rosario conjures surreal, dreamlike tableaus populated by his signature characters who drift through dreamscapes steeped in historical references, cultural habits, traditions and beliefs. Layered with symbolism, his works evoke themes of innocence amidst the absurdity of life. In his world, childhood is not idealized but a foundation for a deeper exploration of identity even in adulthood.
In contrast, Ongchangco celebrates nostalgia in its most tender and tactile form. His works are filled with children and beloved characters from cartoons and pop culture that countless generations enjoyed through Saturday morning tv time. His figures are rendered with a softness that reflect on the fragility of innocence. These dreamlike portraits serve as emotional time capsules, blending sentimentality while revisiting the past.
Together, del Rosario and Ongchangco present a visual dialogue on memory and nostalgia with emphasis on holding on to the icons that helped form who we are. More than the figures we once idolized, these Icons are a reminder of how far we’ve come since then and an acknowledgement that looking back is also a way of moving forward.
Del Rosario was named one of Nokia’s 10 Most Exciting Young Artists in 2009. He has exhibited in major galleries, illustrated award-nominated children’s books, and founded PICASO, a community for artists in Subic and Olongapo. A painter, sculptor, and storyteller at heart, he continues to move seamlessly between mediums while staying true to his singular vision.
With numerous group and solo exhibits both locally and internationally, Ongchangco has cultivated a devoted collector base. He is a member of the prestigious Saturday Group of the Philippine Artists Guild, the oldest art collective in the Philippines that has produced several National Artists for the Visual Arts.
“ICONS: The Stories We Grew Up With,” by Farley del Rosario and Carlo Ongchangco runs at Galleria Nicolas at Greenbelt 5, Makati City from August 14-25, 2025 with an Artists’ reception on August 19, 2025 at 5 p.m.
