In times of war and in times of peace, humanity has always found formidable enemies within its realm of existence. Though war has ceased being fought out in battlegrounds in search for better and richer territory, the common man has never stopped setting himself up in conflict wherever he is. The only difference is, whereas before armies were clothed in armoured uniform, today we fight our wars on the streets, our workplaces and our homes, struggling in plain clothes that serve to protect our thoughts, ideas and personal truths.

Cloak and dagger no more, we fortify ourselves and our reputation through the images we project, our words, and the appearances we set up as a defense mechanism around us to shield ourselves against the breach of personal space and our most guarded top secret information.

These skeletons in our closet might be detonated in one fell swoop, destroying the picture of perfection that we so painstakingly built. Real life is our battlefield, where our thoughts and actions are ammunition, our desires the targets. Equipped with stealth tactics and marching orders, we are each of us an army of one.

In Unconventional Warfare, Dennis Gonzales scrutinizes perception and protection, juedgement and observation. He presents seemingly sinister portraits, but the identities captured on his canvas are never quite what they seem. Who are we to say, honestly, who is truly innocent or guilty, just by looking at visual cues? Our biases might be seen on magazines, television or other mass produced media, their calm demeanor belying the battles that rage deep within. With photorealistic renderings that focus on ca central character and blurs reality at its edges, things are never as they seem. Each painting is a story and each story paints a different scenario of beginnings, endings and intermissions. Even the names of the artworks contribute to the fray, with words bunched together, almost  jumbled as one cohesive statement. It is up to the audience to decipher the cryptic codes and decide who wins or loses.

Dennis Gonzale’s UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE is on exhibit from July 28 to August 10, 2010 in Art Verite’ Gallery, Unit 2C-05, 2/F Shops at Serendra Bonifacio Global Taguig City, Philippines.