Dan Macapugay’s newest exhibit, “Fields of Tranquility” continues with his signature motif. At the center are barefoot women—the recurring figures of his work — serve vividly to illustrate intimacy and fragility to the world around them, constituting hints of “welcomed vulnerabilities”. According to Dan, they are similar to nature in that they are both feminine and unadorned, strong and gentle. His act of removing his shoes reveals a bond between man and nature that narrates a cathartic to home. For him, this act mirrors what he is accustomed to doing—barefoot walking through rice fields—as a reminder to remain present and grounded, and find traces of home in our everyday life.
Influenced by the lyricism of John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet’s soft impressionist landscapes, and Nick Alm’s modern poise, Dan forms a visual vocabulary that is personal yet classical. The women in his paintings do not command our attention but bid quiet reflection, standing as peaceful envoys of the earth that nurtures them.
