Primordia Manila 2026 | Raul Lebajo & Raul Isidro Art Exhibition at Ayala Museum Makati

By John Rey Malto

PRIMORDIA EXHIBITION 2026 MANILA | RAUL LEBAJO & RAUL ISIDRO AT AYALA MUSEUM ARTISTSPACE

For anyone searching for art exhibitions in Manila 2026, contemporary Filipino art in Makati, or simply a meaningful gallery visit near Greenbelt, Primordia is one of the more quietly compelling shows currently on view.

The exhibition officially opened on April 25, 2026 (Ribbon Cutting & Opening Day) at Ayala Museum and runs until May 10, 2026. It is presented by Nami Art Gallery and features two established figures in Philippine contemporary art: Raul Lebajo and Raul Isidro.

Rather than building a single curatorial statement, Primordia places two long-developed practices in direct conversation—offering a clear look at how surreal expressionism and abstract nature-based art in the Philippines can evolve from the same source in completely different directions.

RAUL LEBAJO: SURREAL BOTANICAL FORMS AND ORGANIC TRANSFORMATION

Lebajo’s works extend his well-established Bulb Series, a continuing exploration of surreal botanical imagery in Philippine contemporary art.

His canvases present organic forms that feel in constant transition—bulb-like structures, plant references, and internal systems that suggest growth occurring beneath the surface. The works are dense and layered, often giving the impression that the forms are still unfolding.

Key characteristics of his work in this exhibition include:

• Organic, bulbous forms inspired by plant structures
• Surreal reinterpretations of botanical anatomy
• Layered surfaces suggesting internal growth and transformation
• A visual tension between structure, biology, and imagination

Lebajo’s practice remains grounded in long-term experimentation with nature as both subject and process, making his work a reference point in internationally recognized Filipino surrealist painting.

RAUL ISIDRO: MINIMALIST ABSTRACTION ROOTED IN NATURAL RHYTHM

Isidro’s works present a contrasting approach grounded in minimalist abstraction in Philippine contemporary art.

Rather than depicting nature directly, he reduces it into rhythm, tone, and surface. His paintings rely on restraint, allowing subtle layers and quiet transitions to shape the viewing experience.

His works in Primordia emphasize:

• Minimalist abstraction inspired by natural rhythm
• Subtle layering and tonal shifts
• Controlled, meditative surface treatment
• Atmosphere over literal representation

The result is work that does not describe nature, but instead holds onto its feeling—quiet, slow, and continuous.

WHY PRIMORDIA STANDS OUT IN MANILA’S ART SCENE

For audiences looking for must-see art exhibitions in Makati 2026, Primordia stands out for its clarity and restraint rather than spectacle.

The exhibition brings together:

• Two major names in Philippine contemporary art
• Two distinct approaches: surreal expansion vs. minimalist reduction
• A shared long-term engagement with nature as subject and structure
• A focused museum-level presentation in a central cultural location

What Primordia ultimately presents is not a unified interpretation of nature, but two parallel ways of staying close to it.

Lebajo’s works move through expansion—forms shifting, multiplying, and resisting fixed boundaries. Isidro’s works move through restraint—distilling experience into surface, rhythm, and quiet structure.

Placed together, they do not resolve into a single reading, and they are not meant to. Instead, they reflect how Philippine contemporary art can hold multiple directions at once without losing clarity or depth.

For those searching for free art exhibitions in Manila, Ayala Museum exhibits 2026, or a grounded encounter with both surreal and abstract traditions in Filipino painting, Primordia is a strong recommendation.

Primordia opened on April 25, 2026 (Ribbon Cutting Ceremony) and runs until May 10, 2026 at ArtistSpace, Makati. Admission is free daily.