Gibraltar’s “Kuris-kuris” Exhibit at Gateway Gallery

Filmmaker and visual artist Ray Defante Gibraltar is entering a transformative chapter in his creative journey with two deeply personal milestones — his first solo art exhibition and his first published book. Both works are unapologetically raw, drawing from his past struggles with addiction and shedding light on themes of mental health, resilience, and recovery.

Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon

Opening on August 16–22, 2025 at the Gateway Gallery, 5th Floor, Gateway Tower, Araneta City, Gibraltar’s solo exhibit “Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon” (loosely translated as “Doodles and the Taming of My Dragons”) presents a powerful collection of abstract mixed media works.

“Kuris,” a Cebuano word for doodles or scribbles, reflects the spontaneous, almost primal energy of Gibraltar’s creative process. The pieces capture a visual tapestry of mental, psychological, and emotional turbulence — an honest confrontation of the “dragons” he once wrestled with.

The venue itself holds meaning: Gateway Gallery was also the site of Gibraltar’s 2024 collaborative show “Under Construction” with fellow artist Jom Vega, marking a return to the space where his artistic voice continues to evolve.

From Canvas to Pages: A Story of Recovery

Coinciding with the exhibit is the launch of Gibraltar’s first book, “Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik (Mga Pinta at Kuwento Tungong Kahinahunan)”. More than just a companion catalogue, the 90-page book is part memoir, part art journal. It documents the artworks featured in the exhibit while pairing select pieces with autobiographical essays that reveal the inspirations, struggles, and moments of clarity behind them.

Here, Gibraltar tells his story of moving from the darkness of addiction to the light of recovery, finding healing not just as an artist but also as a son, sibling, husband, and father.

In the book’s Foreword, he reflects:
“Ang pagsalin ng aking mga karanasan sa mga pahina ng librong ito, at ang pagbabahagi ng aking personal na art journal, ay isang paglalakbay pabalik sa aking sarili. Isang pangangailangang kailangan harapin ang mga pangyayari sa aking buhay, lalo na ang mga sugat, ang mga natutunang aral, at ang mga kwento ng pag-asa sa aking pag-ahon mula sa adiksyon.”

A Dual Debut

Together, “Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon” and “Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik” represent more than artistic milestones — they are acts of courage, reclamation, and testimony. Through brushstrokes and words, Gibraltar opens a dialogue on mental health, creative healing, and the power of art to confront even the fiercest inner battles.