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In the heart of Altos de Chavón, WAO Gallery & Cultural Center is set to unveil Playful Memory, an exhibition featuring the work of Dominican artist José Almonte. The showcase, opening on Friday, November 3, seeks to convey a message, a discourse, and a unique perspective on the world and to translate and communicate this perspective through art.

Playful Memory (“Memoria Lúdica”) takes viewers through the memories that have accompanied us throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on our bodies and minds. Almonte’s artwork resurrects these memories, invoking the names of games and conjuring the images and scenes that surrounded them, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

José Almonte is a multidisciplinary visual artist who embraces drawing, painting, printmaking, murals, and mixed media in a powerful and distinctive expressive language. His creations reflect a profound interest in human behavior, emotions, passions, and conflicts, all filtered through the memories forged by moments of play, whether alone or with others, spanning a lifetime but primarily rooted in childhood—a time when play reigns supreme.

The exhibition comprises ten pieces and will remain open from November 3 to December 4, 2023. Visitors can explore the art from Wednesday to Saturday, between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM and on Sundays and Tuesdays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The gallery will be closed on Mondays.

The Patronato Benéfico Oriental, Inc. (PBO) continues its commitment to sustainable, socially impactful initiatives to promote culture. PBO has complemented its programs with offerings from WAO Chavón, which include the WAO Innovation HUB, WAO Gallery & Cultural Center, and the Museo Arqueológico Regional Altos de Chavón in Altos de Chavón. The revenues generated from these projects and activities are directed toward social programs to replicate these initiatives in vulnerable communities served as part of PBO’s community empowerment programs, fostering values in line with their mission, such as respect, solidarity, integrity, and equal opportunities.

About the Artist:

José Almonte was born in 1969 in the city of Cotuí. He pursued studies in Art Conservation at the National School of Art in Santo Domingo and the National School of Fine Arts and specialized in printmaking techniques. As an Afro-descendant artist, his work has been showcased at the Beijing Art Museum in China, a testament to the international recognition of his talent.