Daniel dela Cruz: Doorway to Decision

Daniel Dela Cruz once again proves his mettle with metal as he unveils his 10th one-man exhibit, entitled Doorway to Decision.

In his biggest and most experimental exhibit to date, Daniel explores spiritual crossroads, revealing very moving pieces that demonstrate tension as well as balance. “Everyone of us comes to a point when we have to take a stand, make a decision. Do we flee or do we fight? Each act we make has a consequence and how we deal with these consequences — Do we regret it? Do we embrace it? — intrigues me. Each piece I’ve made explores that and I hope the narrative resonates with the audience,” he says. 

Armed with a degree in Philosophy from UP, Daniel tackles the human complexity intelligently and gracefully. But despite exploring such a serious subject, his pieces are by no means somber. 

The 35 whimsical pieces, made from obstinate metals such as brass, bronze, copper and nickel, defy gravity. They teeter on cliffs; balance delicately on steel cables; leap, float and dance as if weightless. If not for his thoughtful inclinations, Daniel’s delft hand in creating beautifully fluid and balanced forms will have you entranced.

Best known for his graceful feminine sculpture, Daniel takes flight from his previous collections and fleshes out more masculine pieces. “Sculpting men is definitely more challenging for me. When sculpting women, just as long as the curves are correct, just as long as it flows, it will look beautiful. On the other hand, with men, any mistake in proportion and muscle will make it look completely off. But I did it for this exhibit because I wanted to challenge myself,” he says.

In Doorway to Decision, Daniel introduces kinetic pieces like “Beyond Infinity,” which has Rubenesque ballerinas slowly pirouetting atop their pedestal, and “The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn,” a functional, sundial-like piece lit with LED lights. As you browse the other unique pieces, you will notice that acid and rust also play a great role in his new exhibit as Daniel has taken to experimenting with the elements to bring out color, depth and character. “Each of my pieces can be displayed outside. Rain or shine, rust or rain… It is supposed to age and degrade. It adds character to the pieces.”

Daniel has come a long way since his first exhibit in Ayala Museum in 2007 and with a grateful heart he concludes, “ I’m thankful to Dr. Joven Cuanang (one of the most respected art collectors in the country) for inviting me to exhibit in Pinto Art Gallery. It is a great honor. I will continue to push myself as an artist, even if it’s just an inch, just to prove that there is more that I can do.” 

JUNE - 

First published in PeopleAsia Magazine