For his solo exhibition, Out of Eden, at Art Cube, Daniel dela Cruz provides a compelling visual metaphor of humanity’s departure from paradise and its subsequent journey into the vast expanse of the world. The title itself encapsulates this exploration of the fall from grace, symbolizing mankind’s inevitable sallying forth into the four corners of the globe.

The genesis of this exhibition is the work “Inevitability,” created in 2014 and inspired by Ecclesiastes 12:7: “Before dust returns to the earth as it was before and the life-breath returns to God who gave it.” This piece features a man’s outstretched arm, intertwined with a snake, capturing the essence of the biblical passage and the unavoidable return to our origins. It reflects on the cycle of life and death, and the eternal struggle between sin and redemption.

A recurring motif in dela Cruz’s work is the boat, serving as a potent metaphor for the human experience. The majority of the sculptures depict men rowing boats, either alone or with companions, navigating the waves of life. These boats are crafted from wood, a material historically used by our ancestors as they explored the world, grounding the sculptures in a deep historical and cultural context. However, the figures themselves remain in metal, staying true to dela Cruz’s distinctive material of choice.

The artist explains, “Boats have been a constant metaphor for the human experience as we traverse the tumultuous seas of life, searching for a way back to God.” This sentiment is echoed throughout the exhibition, emphasizing the spiritual and existential aspects of our journeys.