Filipino artist Leslie de Chavez explores imperialism and religion of his native country in his distinct oil paintings. These textured scenes carry both a bleakness and arresting luminosity, with a tone that tethers the allegorical to the gritty. A recent show at Arario Gallery Shanghai offers both installations and canvas work from the artist.
“Recognized for his distinguished talent and sensibility in painting, the artist casts a bitter metaphor on the society he lives in, suggesting a response to reality through reconstructing the icons and symbols of the times,” a statement says. “Lesley de Chavez’s value system about society and art is firm and clear. He invites introspection on reality through works that reflect hard work and passion, and stand apart in the world of contemporary art that overflows with visually appealing work without conceptual content.”
See more of de Chavez’s work below.
Using stills from early propaganda films or frontier paintings as a basis, the layered paintings of 
Painted on wood, the textures of 
In her manipulations of the face and artistic form, 