Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi’s “Philippine Madonna” runs until March 15 at The Crucible Art Gallery, 4/L, The Artwalk, Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

The artist’s entire suite of Philippine Madonna is an alternation of pastel pinks and blues, with occasional flashes of incarnadine reds. The figures are centrally placed, with the empty space surrounding them serving as a kind of invisible halo. Indeed, its very starkness glows as a kind of purity that the Madonna stands for.

Limiting her figures’ poses to clasped hands, open arms and crossed arms, Tequi has made the Madonna emotionally accessible, radiating her presence with a welcome intimacy.

A touch of nationalism, if it can be called that, is Tequi’s use of the Philippine religious relleves or wood reliefs as a visual reference. Bordered by ornamental designs judiciously placed at the top center or corners of the frame, these works on paper were wrought with seeming effortlessness.

Previous to this show, Tequi, who is permanently based in France, held a major exhibition of Oriental still lifes.

Call 6356061.