Mayie Delgado explores photographic abstractions

MANILA, Philippines - The Dutch non-representational painter Piet Mondrian once said, “The emotion of beauty is always obscured by the appearance of the object. Therefore the object must be eliminated from the picture.”

In a sense this is what Jose Maria Delgado, or Mayie, does through his photography. The subject of his photographs is obscured and made unfamiliar. At the same time, his pictures reveal truth and beauty that is somehow unavailable to us except through the lens of his camera.

Mayie recalls that his mother was an avid photographer, so he learned to handle a Brownie at age seven or eight.  But at the age of 14, he was entrusted by his father with a 35mm Canon viewfinder and immediately tasked to take pictures of the family’s trip to Europe. This sparked a passion in the young Mayie that burns to this very day.  Though a very busy businessman, he finds or makes time to indulge this passion.

As a photographer, Mayie would continue to practice the art as a youth but would eventually take it more seriously in his 30s. He started using Canon EOS SLR and Hasselblad cameras back in the ‘80s, and continue to use these lines to this day. He was one of the photographers who fully embraced the potential and creativity that digital cameras provided.

Sixty works by Mayie Delgado are featured in “Organic/Inorganic Photographic Abstractions,” which is on view until April 9 at the Gallery of Arts in the City, FVR Park, Federacion Drive corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City.

For information, call 889-3028 or visit www.artsinthecity.ph.