THE GREAT FAREWELL

National Museum of the Philippines: North Wing Gallery

PHILIPPINE ART AWARDS 2012

THE GREAT FAREWELL

The painting is haunting not only because of its style or technique that renders figures in quirky, enigmatic ways but also because of the story that underlies it. It speaks of a father’s death and how this has intensely affected the family. Here painting tempers sentimentality because it is able to retell the tale from a certain distance. Still, the emotion cannot be contained, strongly felt in the stroke, the text, and the condensed moment of grief that disperses in oil.  

- Dr. Patrick D. Flores Phd.

"The Great Farewell"

oil on canvas

72 x 72 inches - 2012

Artist Statement

“The Great Farewell” is a deeply personal painting that reflects my memories of my father during the final days of his life. It is inspired by the quiet and painful moments spent around his deathbed—moments when time seemed to slow, and every breath carried the weight of an approaching goodbye. Through this work, I attempt to preserve the emotions that surrounded those days: grief, love, faith, and the silent acceptance of loss.

At the center of the painting is the memory of my father, lying in his final moments, surrounded by the symbolic elements like trees, flowers and texts. Beside him is my mother, his devoted wife, who remained by his side with unwavering love and loyalty. One of the most important elements in the painting is the image of their hands clasped and their eyes closed in deep prayer. This gesture symbolizes both surrender and hope—a quiet plea for peace, comfort, and perhaps one last miracle.

Another symbolic element within the painting is the flower vase shaped like a heart at the lower right corner. For me, it represents the fragile emotional state of our family during that time, particularly my mother’s grief. The vase reminds me of the moment when I felt as though I could almost hear the sound of her heart breaking. It captures the silent pain that filled the room—an invisible yet powerful presence that affected everyone in the family.

“The Great Farewell” is not only about the passing of my father but also about the emotional bond that held our family together in that moment of loss. Each elements in the painting carries a different weight of grief, yet we were united in prayer, memory, and charity. Through this work, I honor my father’s life, my mother’s devotion, and the deep emotional experience that shaped us as family.

Ultimately, this painting serves as both a farewell and a remembrance. It preserves a moment that was painful yet sacred—a moment where love, faith, and loss existed together. “The Great Farewell” is my way of keeping my father’s memory alive and acknowledging the quiet strength of a family learning to say goodbye.

_______________________________
*Dedicated with love to my farther, Rolando V. Garcia Sr. June 9, 1960 - January 18, 2009.