We are definitely not just talking about Esmao shedding off his “struggling artist look.”
Clean-cut, bespectacled and low-key, but charming, Patrick Esmao welcomed members of the press to an exclusive preview of his “Threads of Time” exhibit, which is now ongoing until March 11 at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell. And there, the self-effacing artist regaled us with how he stitched together his current solo show.
Now on his sixth solo show, the artist jokingly told us that some years back, and after some prodding, he finally followed the advice of one of Galerie Joaquin’s consultants to fix his hair and shed his “struggling artist look.” But to say that the artist has picked up new threads is an understatement.
Ultimately, Esmao’s threads are still brightest when they’re on canvas. And this is especially the case in his latest exhibition.
Reaching above and beyond the rudiments of art and architecture, “Threads of Time” is a geometric wonderland. The pieces, some of which evoke brighter, happier versions of Arturo Luz’s works, carry with them Esmao’s deft hand when it comes to handling acrylic & thread – two fundamental elements in his art. Each piece on display during the preview is young, fresh and playful, hiding in plain sight the countless hours the artist had spent painting, layering and stitching together each masterpiece.
Judging from the deserts, skyscrapers, oases and ancient temples in his pieces, one could say that Esmao joins an endless line of artists who have fallen in love with landscapes. His style, however, sets him apart. The artist further defines the landscapes’ rugged contours by painstakingly and strategically stitching metallic threads on to the canvas. Doing so helps him add dimension, depth and structure to each composition — resulting in something that’s so unmistakably Esmao.
Despite his unconventional approach, Esmao expertly teeters between abstract and realism, as seen in his ability to retain a level of familiarity in his subjects. “A simple change in the shape of a subject can really create and transform a whole new set of images,” he says. “A cactus, for instance, has a defined form, so it’s easier to reduce them into geometric patterns to maintain some familiarity.”
Those who follow Esmao would know that his art and distinct style are also an ode to his past. Having no formal training in art, Esmao began as a drafting teacher in 2008. He also became a full-time teacher who dabbled in the arts part-time for 13 years, before he finally decided to become a full-time artist in 2021. “There’s no rulebook when it comes to pursuing the arts,” Esmao states. The artist has since participated in well-received multiple solo and group exhibitions, while his works have been included in several art magazines and coffee table books. – By Jose Paolo S. dela Cruz
