The Portrait

Artist: Lili Marjorie H. Gualberto

Medium: Mixed Media on Canvas, Acrylic, Copper Mesh Wire, and 24 ct. Gold Gilt on Capiz Shells

Dimensions: 30x30 cm

Provenance: Courtesy of the Artist, United Kingdom

Exhibition History: Newry Library, Northern Ireland

Estimate: Open for valuation / Unique artwork

Curatorial Statement

This mixed-media artwork presents a symbolic meditation on identity, belonging, and historical memory. A fluid turquoise ground evokes the Philippine seascape, while a woven copper mesh references the columnar basalt formations of Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway, acknowledging Josephine Bracken's Irish heritage through her parents, who were both born in Northern Ireland. Three 24 ct gilded Philippine Capiz shells represent Dr. José Rizal, Josephine Bracken, and their infant son, Francisco, forming a symbolic family portrait absent from the historical record. Through these carefully considered materials, the work reflects shared identity, kinship, and remembrance across cultures and generations.