In many spiritual traditions, the full moon embodies cyclic completion, mystery, and enlightenment. For artist Jepoy Almario, it takes center stage as both theme and motif, serving as a luminous backdrop against which the female subject is explored. Interestingly, Almario frames his exhibition pieces almost like a musical composition—a sonata unfolding through exposition, development, and recapitulation.

His exposition begins with the principal theme: womanhood. The female form becomes his central motif, depicted with a balance of strength and grace. Even when accompanied by the presence of a sheathed katana—an emblem of power and defense—his women remain grounded in gentleness through the soft folds of patterned kimonos and the delicacy of floral tattoos. This introduction establishes his key concerns: femininity in strength, cultural depth, and the ever-present witnessing of the full moon.

In the development, Almario deepens these themes through a masterful play of contrasts. A serene blue moon is set against the brilliance of a golden orb while a meditative maiden contrasts with a vigilant warrior. Across his canvases, he moves fluidly between tranquility and intensity, tradition and reinvention, fragility and strength . Each painting functions like a movement, shifting in tone yet linked to the larger composition.

The recapitulation then brings the journey full circle. Almario returns to his principal motifs, but now enriched by transformation. His women emerge not as passive muses but as dynamic heroines, narrators of their own stories. The timeless and omniscient moon links each canvas into a sonata that is both lyrical and structured. In the end, Full Moon Sonata becomes a visual symphony: a meditation on identity, grace and strength all beneath the eternal light of the moon.

Jepoy Almario (b. 1980, Manila) is a Filipino contemporary visual artist. Born into an art-loving family, Almario’s talent in the visual arts was honed at a very early age. At university, he studied Advertising at the College of Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, where he received mentorship from prominent artists. After completing his studies, he took a hiatus from the visual arts scene to gain exposure in the fields of broadcasting, music, fashion and education. Even so, he set time to paint continuously to discover a style characterized by multiple images that implied manifold life options – an expression of his state of mind. He also learned about painting theory during his stint in the academe, an effort which would prime him for a resolute move to pursuing art full time.

In 2009, he became one of the Finalists of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Competition, which was pivotal in his pursuit of art as a profession. He has been part of countless group shows and art fairs and was able to participate in three international group exhibitions held in Hong Kong, New York, USA and Vienna, Austria. This is his third show at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell.

Galerie Joaquin Rockwell is located at the R3 Level of Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati. For inquiries, contact +63 915 4145502 or email galeriejoaquin@gmail.com