Galerie Joaquin Singapore Artists Gallery

EUFEMIO RASCO

Since the beginning of his immersion in the arts, Eufemio Rasco IV has been fascinated with illustrating images of women in subtle but strikingly powerful nudity. Garbed in a single piece of clothing in a solid red or black, or partly but elegantly covered in sheets flowing fabric, his women figures are dramatically suggestive.

Tupac as he is called in the art circles is rather introspective by nature. He admits to his quiet and reserved demeanor but alludes to his works as the viewer’s gateway in peering to his soul. Although nudity comes out as the central theme of his art, his women figures reveal a higher purpose: The painter’s solid artistic expression from the moment he picks up his brush to the end product of his endeavor. “I become more expressive in painting. Tahimik ako pero sumisigaw ako sa mga painting ko [but I shout through my work],” he intimately reveals.

Looking closely at his women, Rasco does not solely focus on cultivating aesthetics from the curvaceous figures he paints on canvas but more so on the interweaving of emotions evoked by his subjects that flow freely from his art. He defines Filipina women as dynamic figures of society, open to embracing cultures and various influences, as well as sensitive and responsive to the changes of time. “My paintings are open to interpretation. I put elements such as a red or black jacket and maximize its effect on my figures,” elaborates the promising artist.

Rasco selects a minimalist backdrop for his works, oftentimes characterized by purely dark and grayish black hues to intensify the drama produced between his chosen subject and the jacket which not only serves as a time element, but also suggests subtle exposure of nudity. His colors are a blend of piercing black, red, and white, influencing the viewer’s deeper perception of his subjects.

His women, often with veiled faces, reveal a universal character with which any woman can empathize. “If the faces are hidden, it can mirror anyone. My paintings do not readily identify a single person,” explains the artist.

The youngest in a brood of 13, Rasco was free to explore his artistic gift. His parents Eufemio Rasco Sr. and Priscilla Abad Rasco supported him completely as he unraveled his potential in the arts. Already an achiever in his grade school years, he bagged a silver medal for submitting an entry on the traditional Filipino way of life in the Asian’s Children Art Contest in Japan. Back then, his little pleasures were sketching quick portraits of his father’s friends during gatherings, for which they would reward him with a small amount.

After high school, he went to the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts to major in Studio Arts Painting before moving on to Philippine Women’s University Institute of Fine Arts and Design, also to study Painting.

			Bared Oil on Canvas 36 x 30 in
			Midnight Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 in
			Memories Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 in
			Green Linen Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 in
			Alone Oil on Canvas 30 x 30 in

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