Artist and educator Roberto Martin Sing debuts as a solo artist with his exhibition Cool Waters. Rooted in the belief that art should offer contemplative solace, the series reflects Sing’s conviction that painting can serve as a sanctuary for the mind and spirit. Having spent his professional life as an educator in the demanding environment of Metro Manila, Sing finds in the image of the freshwater stream a recurring metaphor for escape and renewal — a return to quietude and wonder.

Rejecting the impulse toward artistic provocation, Cool Waters is devoted instead to evoking peace, healing, and emotional refuge from the anxieties of modern life. The series channels the essence of Aestheticism — “art for art’s sake” — yet reinterprets it through the pursuit of inner stillness rather than pure sensation. This vision resonates with the contemplative ideals of philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer, who regarded aesthetic experience as a brief liberation from the suffering of human striving.

Beyond its meditative spirit, Cool Waters also stands as a 10-year chronicle of artistic discipline and growth. Each painting functions as a testament to Sing’s academic philosophy: a practice grounded in the study of the Old Masters’ techniques and continually renewed through experimentation with medium, light, and form. The collection thus embodies the artist’s dedication to the continuous refinement of craft and intellect.

Ultimately, Cool Waters fulfills a threefold purpose: to honor the enduring traditions of painting, to convey a message of serenity and emotional sustenance to its viewers, and to express the artist’s own commitment to cultivating his God-given talent — a reflection of the Parable of the Talents.

Cool Waters runs from 18 to 25 October at the Studio of Gateway Gallery, the art museum of Araneta City, located on the fifth floor of Gateway Tower, Cubao, Quezon City. The exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with free admission. For inquiries, email gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com or call +63 2 8253012. —RHM