Prima Custos: MADE 2023 Special Citation Recipient Dexter Cinco

S P E C I A L    C I T A T I O N                          
Oil/Acrylic on Canvas Category

Dexter Cinco
Prima Custos (First Guardian)

Dexter Cinco’s painting, “Prima Custos,” is a Special Citation recipient in the Oil/Acrylic on Canvas category. It is a “homage to elderly members of society” who have imparted their wisdom and care towards the youth. In Latin, the title translates to “first guardian.” The image is cut in two parts with each half conveying a story of its own. The artist captures her likeness with a forlorn yet tender expression. Occupying more space on the surface of the painting, Cinco features how the human eye holds unspoken truths and emotions with just one look. The woman gazes into the distance with a knowing look on her face, almost like she’s watching her life play out in front of her. A sense of calm washes over her as she knows that the younger generation will stay beside her just as she’s done for them. Text by Janine Bernardo of Metrobank Foundation

Hello, Dexter! Your artwork, “Prima Custos,” beautifully conveys the significance of elderly members of society. Could you share a specific memory or moment that inspired you to create this piece, which celebrates your grandmother? 

Dexter Cinco: When I went home to our province, Catubig, Northern Samar, my grandmother told me that she had always wanted me to do a portrait of her. That was around last year, before Metrobank called for MADE 2023 submissions.

During that vacation, my grandmother and I had a special conversation. She revealed to me that her children rarely ask how she is. Knowing her age and being close to her, I felt sad and wished that my aunts and uncles paid attention to her a little more. She added that a simple “how are you?” would be enough for her despite understanding how everyone is busy with their own lives now. This conversation made me realize that as people get older, money and other material support start to matter less. What nourishes one’s soul and allows an individual to age gracefully are the connections they get to keep.

Prima Custos is my tribute to my grandmother; it is my way of expressing my affection and appreciation for her. I feel blessed that this gesture paved the way to my first MADE win.

“Prima Custos” captures the essence of aging with grace and dignity. How did you approach the challenge of portraying the passage of time and the wisdom it brings to your artwork? 

Dexter Cinco: I believe that the human body is a great storyteller. For Prima Custos, I knew that I simply had to surrender to what the subject wanted to say. I tried my best to capture all the relevant emotions through the image. Sometimes you have to let an artwork speak for itself.

The challenge for me here was to accept that the piece’s life and wisdom do not fully rely on me as the artist. I had to acknowledge that I was only bringing life to what I had in mind and allow the piece to take a life of its own. I would say that I approached Prima Custos as honestly as I could, staying faithful to the message that I wanted to impart.

The dual composition of your artwork, where one half focuses on the elderly woman’s expressive eye, is striking. Could you elaborate on the symbolism behind this choice and its connection to the overall message of your piece? 

Art is a powerful communication tool. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, parts of us that allow us to truly connect with one another. I chose to highlight this body part in my piece because I want to open all our eyes to people and things we must pay more attention to such as our elderly or first guardians—our prima custos.

Your personal connection to the subject matter is evident in “Prima Custos.” Can you discuss the emotions you experienced while creating this artwork and how it strengthened your bond with your grandparents? 

I was very emotional while completing the painting. I had flashbacks of how my grandmother was there during my formative years in the province. She stood by our family’s side during hard times, even when we barely had any food on the table. These emotions were not at all a hindrance, as they allowed me to be as vulnerable as possible. I was even more inspired as I got to look back and reflect, seeing how life has changed since then. I poured my entire heart out into crafting Prima Custos for I know how happy my grandmother is to know that I continue to dedicate time for my artistic pursuit. When she found out that I received a Special Citation from MADE, she was very happy and even shed a tear. She says she is very proud of me.

You mentioned that your major influences as an artist are your family, especially your uncle, who is also an artist. How has their support and influence shaped your artistic journey, and do you collaborate with them on any projects?

Dexter Cinco: I would say that I am a self-taught artist. I was never the type to ask for instructions or mentorship. My uncle was more of an inspiration, as I saw him painting every now and then when I was growing up. He and I also had collaborations or mural projects to support my studies back then. Still, I would say that it was observation and an artistic exploration that allowed me to find a style of my own.

While you primarily work in hyperrealism, you mentioned a previous focus on landscape paintings. How has your style evolved over the years, and what prompted the transition from landscapes to portraiture with a deep emotional narrative like “Prima Custos”? 

Dexter Cinco: Probably the reason why I have learned to enjoy working on hyperrealism pieces is that I have worked on several commission portraits, specifically human portraits. I love how hyperrealism challenges one to pay extra attention to details. Personally, I find it both challenging and satisfying to be able to give justice to the piece and ensure that clients appreciate my work.

I work on landscape pieces from time to time as I find that these are more calming and relaxing. Moving forward, I intend to further explore and develop the style that I used for Prima Custos.

“Prima Custos” emphasizes the importance of giving back to the elderly, a sentiment often overlooked in our fast-paced society. What are your plans or aspirations for using your art to raise awareness about this issue and promote intergenerational connections? 

Dexter Cinco: My only wish is that my artwork would be enough to start or continue conversations about the well-being of the elderly. Art is my way of contributing to this conversation, but in reality, what we really need is action. Without initiative or changed behavior, artworks such as Prima Custos would mean nothing. I truly hope that I can inspire and urge the current and future generations to act on and demand better care for the elderly in the best they can, starting with their own parents and grandparents. •

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