Clockwise from top left: Mr. Robles answers questions from the audience; Ambassador Garcia and Mr. Robles unveil “Rizal in Assertionism;” Mr. Robles during his art talk; and Mr. Robles demonstrates how he makes his Assertionism sketches.

13 June 2018, Ottawa – Modern visual artist Rene Robles launched his solo exhibit titled “Assertionism” today at the Philippine Embassy in Canada’s Sentro Rizal Ottawa. The exhibit is scheduled from 14 to 25 June 2018 and is open to the public.

Braving the thunderstorm hovering over Ottawa on a Wednesday night, around one hundred guests trooped to the Embassy Chancery on Murray Street to catch the avant-garde artist in person during the opening reception of his exhibit. Mr. Robles treated the audience to a lecture on Assertionism and Filipino art while doing several impromptu sketches onstage, much to the audience’s delight.

Mr. Robles is the founder of the Assertionism art movement which subscribes to the theory that “art that has power asserts, transforms, and transcends.” His work has garnered numerous international awards and may be found in public and private collections around the world.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia welcomed the audience composed of artists, art enthusiasts, and other members of the local community. “In keeping with the Philippine Embassy’s mission to spread greater awareness and understanding of Filipino culture, we hope to share with you another aspect of Philippine visual arts and Mr. Robles’ own unique perspective,” she stated. “Bold and unapologetic, his works will make you rethink the three-dimensional world we live in.”

Mr. Robles also presented his original piece “Rizal in Assertionism” and announced his plan to donate it to the Embassy at the conclusion of the exhibit.

“Assertionism” is one of the activities organized by the Philippine Embassy in celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. END.