PRIMORDIA: A Masterful Dialogue on the Living Landscape

Nami Art Gallery Presents Raul Lebajo and Raul Isidro at the Ayala Museum

There is a profound stillness that settles over you when walking into the Artiste Space at the Ayala Museum these days. It is the feeling of being surrounded by "Primordia"—the raw, elemental beginnings of life.

Nami Art Gallery has brought together two of the icons of Philippine art, Raul Lebajo and Raul Isidro, for an exhibition that feels less like a traditional gallery show and more like an intimate exchange between two lifelong students of the natural world.

The Roots of the Exhibition

Named after the daughter of gallery owners Tin and Gabriel Yap, Nami Art Gallery was founded on the principle of nurturing Filipino artistry. With Primordia, that mission reaches a new height. The opening night was a beautiful testament to this "nature and nurture" philosophy, highlighted by a warm ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Raul Isisdro, Raul Lebajo  Tricia Isidro, Annabelle Isidro, Gio Lebajo, and Tin Yap.

Two Visions of the Living Landscape

The exhibition serves as a profound dialogue between two distinct visual languages, beginning with Raul Lebajo, a pioneer of Environmental Surrealism in the Philippines. At first glance, one might mistake Lebajo’s "bulbs" for physical sculptures emerging from the wall; his mastery of texture and volume on canvas is so complete that these botanical forms possess a palpable physical weight. In this continuation of his celebrated Bulb Series, Lebajo moves far beyond simple representation to create what he calls "psychological vessels". These forms are defined by the "Anatomy of Growth," where swelling organic shapes are threaded with fine lines suggesting seeds, fibers, or even a brain-like mass. This vitality exists in constant contrast with skeletal, threadlike branches that interrupt the lushness, creating a quiet tension between life’s vibrancy and its underlying structure. Ultimately, Lebajo’s paintings act as a "living landscape" of the subconscious, inviting us to contemplate growth, memory, and the strange, persistent beauty of the natural world.

Complementing Lebajo’s structured surrealism is the lyrical abstraction of Raul Isidro. While Lebajo paints the "body" of nature, Isidro captures its very "soul". His canvases function as layered deposits of sensation, where a rich syntax of color distills the environment into "Chromatic Currents"—shifting hues and iridescent sheers that create a nebulous, meditative glow. Isidro’s work is characterized by its fluid boundaries; forms hesitate at the edge of recognition, drifting and overlapping in a way that reflects the ever-changing states of the earth, from shifting tides to the atmospheric depth of a storm. As a master who understands his medium by heart, Isidro’s abstraction does not demand a rigid interpretation. Instead, it invites the viewer to step into a drifting register of feeling, experiencing nature as a spiritual and emotional pulse.

A Legacy in Full Bloom

The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see these two iconic artists in the Philippines in dialogue. While their "idioms" differ—one leaning toward surrealist form and the other toward elemental abstraction—they are united by a deep respect for the uncontrived forces of nature. Through the vision of Nami Art Gallery, Primordia stands as a reminder that nature is both our origin and our greatest teacher. It is a show about the beauty of beginnings and the maturity of two masters who continue to push the boundaries of the Filipino visual language.

Don't miss the chance to see these masterworks up close. Primordia is currently on view at the Artiste Space, Ayala Museum. Immerse yourself in the dialogue between Raul Lebajo and Raul Isidro and discover the raw beauty of the natural world for yourself.

If you are Interested in adding a piece of Raul Lebajo's works or a signature Raul Isidro abstraction to your collection, view the full digital catalog of Primordia on our website or contact our team for a private viewing.

At Nami Art Gallery, we believe art is a conversation that never ends. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to go behind the scenes of Primordia, see artist interviews, and be the first to know about our upcoming exhibitions.

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Nurturing Filipino Artistry, one masterpiece at a time.