One of the things held near and dear to the hearts of many Filipinos are the memories of strolling along the expansive promenades of what was once Asia’s biggest park, Rizal Park, or more affectionately known as Luneta, is filled with life and laughter.

These recollections are depicted in Filipino artist Christian Regis’s work. From vibrant latex and mylar balloons that glitter in the sunlight to vendors selling everything from delicious artisanal ice cream made with Water Buffalo cream to robustly flavored soft tofu with tapioca pearls and caramel-- these images will always be familiar as one recalls a moment in the past.

Within the expanse of the city of Manila, the “Jeepney”, a form derived from a standard-issue, American Military jeep, has transformed the Philippines by allowing citizens to move around towns and cities. The “Jeep” or “dyip” as Filipinos would call it, has become a symbol of Philippine ingenuity and creativity, filling the streets with color and sound. To a tourist’s eye, it’s easy to notice the unique aesthetic on every jeep as they are filled with various images that are a deeply symbolic talisman to the one who drives it.

In the heart of Manila, the Malate Church opens to allow the faithful to walk into the bright sunlight that bathes everything in a soft white glow. The humid air, heavy with the scent of morning traffic is like dense perfume. Sundays are kept holy, but not dull. Morning mass and prayers are but the start of a day of rest, not necessarily of body, but of soul: where one is renewed and made whole--a bright spot at the end of the week.

Click here to download the exhibit catalog.

"SORBETERO SA PARKE"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

20” X 24”

2019

20” X 24” | 2019

SOLDMORE DETAILS

"MAGTATAHO SA AVENIDA"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

14” X 24”

2019

14” X 24” | 2019

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"IKAW PA RIN, MAAGANG PASADA"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

36” X 18”

2019

36” X 18” | 2019

SOLDMORE DETAILS

"JEEPNEY PASADA PA MORE"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

24” X 36”

2019

24” X 36” | 2019

SOLDMORE DETAILS

"FORT SANTIAGO (SERIES)"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

16” X 20”

2018

16” X 20” | 2018

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"D' BEETLE"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

20” X 18”

2020

20” X 18” | 2020

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"AVENIDA VIA ESCOLTA DEKAKA 30'"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

17” X 24”

2021

17” X 24” | 2021

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"RATSADA PASADA"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

19” X 23”

2021

19” X 23” | 2021

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"BALLOON VENDOR IN MANILA"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

12” X 24”

2021

12” X 24” | 2021

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"MANONG ICE CREAM NGA PO"

Christian Regis

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

18” X 20”

2021

18” X 20” | 2021

AVAILABLEMORE DETAILS

CHRISTIAN REGIS is a Filipino visual artist whose work has caught the attention and interest of both local and international art aficionados for his distinctive interpretation of Manila's historical landmarks, their streets, and their edifices. He has had various solo exhibitions namely “Lights and Silhouettes” at New World Makati, “Abstraktika” at the Ayala Museum, and “Colorful World of Regis” in the US, among others. Regis continues to participate in group exhibitions and solo shows across Manila. He is currently in a residency program in Tuscany, Italy.

What is apparently precious to Regis is seeing light and color in the scenes he paints. While we are all used to seeing images of Pinoys immersed in the daily grind,

Regis offers bright bursts of colors in his oil and acrylic paintings to scenes of dim drudgery that make the hard life we are used to something worth living for. It’s also his alternative to escaping heavy conceptualism that often accompanies art production and appreciation.

Through the years, Regis has mastered his own technique and has slowly innovated from hasty swathes that viewers often identify with folksy, traditional Mabini art toward his own hybrid, present-day methodology. In many ways, his art resonates with the old and young Pinoy both in the Philippines and abroad who seek that distinct “Manila vibe” connection.