Heraclio Basilio, known as ‘Eros’ to many, is a Filipino visual artist known for his distinct intricate painting technique. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Major in Painting at the University of Santo Tomas where his talent did not go unnoticed. He won 32 awards including a Certificate of Merit from the Art Association of the Philippines in 1975. He was also a recipient of the university’s prestigious Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award in 1976, and the Alumni Art Achievement Award in 2981.
After graduating from college, he intended to pursue the arts, but the untimely death of his father led him to a more pragmatic decision, eventually landing him a job in advertising. In the industry, he was fondly called the “logo master”, having designed the logos for well-known brands such as Ayala Center, Adobo Magazine, Isuzu Crosswind, SMX Convention Center, One E-Com Center, Ballet Philippines, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Globe Handyphone, San Mig Light beer, Ramon Magsaysay Transformative Leadership Institute, and many more. He became the Creative Director for Design at McCann Erickson Philippines, the leading multinational ad agency in the country, but remained a warm and generous individual, always willing to help for a good cause.
Eros also designed coffee table books for publisher Muse Books, which reaped awards: The Philippine Arena: A Monument to an Enduring Faith, 150: The Ateneo Way and a Gold Anvil Award winner — The PNB (Philippine National Bank) Centennial Book.
In 2010, Eros decided to leave advertising and return to his first love, painting. His style is a mix of cubism and figurative realism, using the wash technique to achieve color transparency in brushstrokes. Renaissance and Gothic architecture are also prominently depicted in some of his works. Later on, he tried integrating female figures as his subjects. Primarily executed in acrylic, Eros’ paintings are distinguished by his trademark colors of ‘Burnt Umber’ and ‘Hooker’s Green’. He drew inspiration from artists Michael Cheval, Claudio Bravo, Cesar Legaspi, and Vicente Manansala.
Eros mounted three consecutive solo exhibitions at Ayala Museum’s Artist Space from 2011-2013. then a two-man show in 2014 with his fellow artist and college friend Jose Tence Ruiz at Caida gallery. He was preparing for his 4th solo show when Eros passed away in January 2017. He was only 60.
In his memory, and as a tribute to his amazing artistic skills, a group of his friends from advertising got together with his beloved daughter, Camille, to share and showcase Eros’ creativity in an exhibit that includes recent works never yet shown to the public.
EROS EXEUNT, runs from July 22-27, 2017 at Nova Gallery, Warehouse 12A, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City. You may also visit www.erosbasilio.com to get a preview of his works.
