Inspired by a chapter in Rizal's El Filibusterismo, this Juanito Torres painting depicts a malevolent Simoun as he intends to blow up the room filled society's evils.

The beginnings of Galerie Joaquin is deeply rooted in one man’s sheer love and passion for all things beautiful. This fondness, he discovered and nurtured when he had been given many opportunities to travel abroad, in moments where he frequented museums in London, New York, Geneva, Vienna, Paris, and Rome. He had just resigned from the Department of Agriculture’s Fiber Industry Development Authority after working there for 23 years. He found nothing else to do but saw that “it was too early in life to just live in a cottage and go fishing.” This man is journalist, economist, and art collector Jack Teotico and now publisher of a pioneering art magazine in the country.

He became so involved with art that he decided to put up his own gallery, what with him already having a considerable number of paintings he had amassed in the ‘80s. “Sometime in the early ‘80s, I chanced upon a group of elderly artists painting in a gallery in Sunvar Plaza in Makati Cinema Square. I got friendly with them. It turned out that these artists were very warm and kind. They made me their friends,” Teotico recalls.

“Only later did I realize that they are the big guns of Philippine art. I saw a guy there who was painting clowns…he’s name is Ang Kiukok. There’s this other guy with a goatee who was painting anatomical figures…he was Cesar Legaspi. One of them became my compadre…his name is Onib Olmedo.

Malang and BenCab were there also. There was another guy who was always cracking jokes, he was so nice…he became a very dear friend; he was Sansó. Because of him and because of his kindness, I was able to start a small art collection,” he adds.

Upon Legaspi’s prodding, he eventually became a member of the group and started painting himself.

Later, he was made columnist in the Manila Chronicle and Times Journal. His space was solely devoted to the developments in arts and culture. Finally, in 2002, Teotico put up Galerie Joaquin in old San Juan with the help of funding from some friends. Eight years later, Galerie Joaquin has expanded its wings to include two branches, three sister galleries, and an international space in Singapore.

Interestingly, its partnership with Singapore has resulted in the 100-percent, full-fledged promotion of Filipino art. The gallery in Singapore remains the only venue for Filipino artists to easily display their oeuvres.

“What is interesting about having a partner in Singapore is that if there are deserving artists in the Philippines, no matter how young they are, they can be given a show in Singapore,” Teotico explains.

“Or their works can be offered to auction houses for inclusion in their regular auctions. Through the years, the gallery has found itself working closely with auction houses such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s.”

In lieu of its eighth anniversary in the art scene, the Galerie Joaquin group of galleries has recently mounted an exhibit billed ‘Year 8’ at the SM Art Center in Megamall. Bringing together the contemporary masters, tried and tested talents, and a fresh breed of artistic minds in today’s art milieu, the show is a testament to the undeniable and unparalleled creative sensibilities of Filipino artists—whether young or old. The exhibit is also an explosion of both visual prose and poetry and varied pictorial languages and expressions.

Curated by Reuben Ramas Cañete, ‘Year 8’ featured National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Sansó, Lydia Velasco, Mario Parial, Carlo Magno, Dominic Rubio, Eufemio Rasco, Jaspher Penuliar, Jovan Benito, Amador Barquilla, Jerry Morada, Karina Baluyut, Edwin Tres Reyes, Joselito Dayono, Aljo Pingol, Delluba, Aileen Lanuza, Vincent de Pio, PJ Jalandoni, and Phil de Guzman.

Sculptures of Ramon Orlina, Daniel dela Cruz, and Michael Cacnio were also shown in the exhibit, as well as paintings of Juanito Torres.

Galerie Joaquin is located at 371 P. Guevarra St., San Juan. For more details, call 723-9253 or visit www.galeriejoaquin.com.