Between the layers

The vernissage of Conrad Manila’s 43rd edition of the Of Art and Wine series unfolded as a sublime invitation to pause, enveloping guests in the evocative quietude of Benjie Cabangis’ solo exhibition, “Between Layers of Stillness.”

Curated with a keen, discerning eye by Nestor Jardin at the elegant Gallery C, the evening was a masterclass in sensory harmony, pairing sophisticated vintages with 22 masterful abstract canvases.

As the year draws to a close, Conrad Manila’s general manager, Rupert Hallam, warmly welcomed Manila’s cultural elite, noting that the exhibition serves as a profound sanctuary and more importantly a deliberate pause to reflect on the year’s passage and deeply anchor ourselves in the beauty of the present moment.

Cabangis’ works, are exquisite tapestries of time and emotion, meticulously built through pigments that are applied, scraped away, and subtly resurrected.

Guests lingered before the canvases, captivated by the interplay of texture and light that reveals traces of hidden marks and colors beneath the surface. It is a visual journey that rejects haste. Each layer demands that the viewer slow down, breathe, and discover an exquisite, hard-won calm amidst the modern rush.