Covered Truths

León Gallery International opened its first exhibition year of 2025, organized by Metro Gallery. The collection of recent works by Dino Gabito entitled “Covered Truths” featured five large, oil-on-canvas paintings.
I remember that I was the first one to cover this talented young artist’s very first solo exhibition way back in 2014 and the story came out in this column in The Philippine Star. Interest in his works became so overwhelming that The Metro Gallery (which represents him) had to come up with a waiting list for his works, a list that is still very long as Dino’s works are meticulously painted and take some time to finish. The demand for his artworks is the same from then till now so whenever one of his old works is offered at an auction, a fierce bidding ensues and his works are sold at quite high prices.

Dino graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting degree from the University of Santo Tomas. He has been part of several group exhibitions in Paris, Venice, Busan and Jakarta. This is the artist’s 12th solo show, including being a featured artist at The Metro Gallery booth at Art Fair Philippines in 2022.

Central to Dino’s compositions is a figure cloaked in white — a “shroud” as he called it. This became one of the recurring figures of his works if not fabric. Art critic Carlomar Arcangel Daoana noted on this show’s exhibition notes that, “In this latest iteration of his “Shroud” series, Gabito employs his iconography not merely as a visual motif but as a vessel for introspection. The shroud — concealing as it does — amplifies the power of what remains unseen. By embracing subtlety and indirection, the artist reveals that concealment can often speak louder than overt expression. There is a poignancy in what is left unsaid, a resonance in the feelings that resist easy articulation.”

All five of his works were snapped up on opening night. Other members of the art crowd spotted that night included Tats Manahan, Mike and Monette Mapa, Anton R. Mendoza, Olivia Yao, Derek Flores, Gerry Qua, and Trickie Lopa.
This artist showed promise 11 years ago and has become one of the most in-demand young artists in the Philippine art scene right now. I am so happy with what he has achieved as an artist. Congratulations on this beautiful show.
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