These are indeed trying times. The COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc on the lives and welfare of so many of our countrymen. Thousands have died, millions have lost their jobs and millions have sunk deeper into poverty. We view with deep concern China’s encroachments and our fishermen being prevented from engaging in their livelihood in our own waters.
Juanito Torres posits that with all these internal and external threats around us, Independence month is a good time as any for reflecting about our notions of heroism and our concept of freedom. With a mixture of both factual and symbolic paintings, Torres presents a sweeping view of history and in the spirit of our 123rd Independence Day, underscores that our quest for Freedom is a never ending one.
In Torres’ view, the Quest for Freedom is a continuous, ongoing dynamic. Vigilance must always come to the fore.
Otherwise, hard fought gains such as democratic space, civil liberties and even basic freedoms can easily be taken away.
Torres does this by taking us back through different periods and epochs of our history. The Filipino has struggled long and hard against all types of foes to get to where we are now.
In Quest for Freedom, Torres presents works based on actual historical events such as the Sumuroy Rebellion against an oppressive colonial class that forced workers beyond physical and human endurance to build the galleons for Spain. Or the execution of Rizal.
The other works are heavily interspersed with coded symbols that urge us to cast a critical eye on both our past and our present juxtaposing traditional understanding of heroism as exemplified by history.
He presents this visually through his very powerful concepts and compositions in order to urge us to rethink how we view Philippine sovereignty, nationalism, love for country and love for the Filipino way of life in the midst of these threats from both within and without.
With twelve artworks on exhibit, some over 10 feet wide, Torres follows the allegorical tradition exemplified by Juan Luna’s epic Spoliarium. With pieces that are both thought provoking and moving, the Torres exhibition is sure to move one to question what it is to love our country at this crucial point in time and what it is we must do to preserve our freedom.
