Rebel and Legend

MANILA, Philippines - An eye catching bronze rendition of Amorsolo greets passersby along the street that bears his name. And his name more than rightfully comes to mind when thinking of recent artistic giants. But should an enquiring visitor ever ask who else, who would we mention? One name comes to mind, singular among many other illustrious names in the artistic firmament of the Philippines.

Hailing from Nueva Ecija, this Maestro has the unique honor of establishing the first school of art in Hong Kong, no mean feat in a city inundated by European art. This driving need to teach exceeded all other impulses, bringing the master home to plant the seed of a “new age” of art in the Philippines. The seed became a plant that grew robustly and brought forth fruit in an entire generation of recognized Filipino artists honored in their own time, among them the original Thirteen Moderns.

The hand that rocked this cradle of creative virtuosity belongs to Diosdado Magno Lorenzo. Regarded by many as the father of Philippine modernism, the man, though simple, expressed his unique genius through an entire range of artistic mediums: oils, pastels, tempera and watercolor portraying the varied Philippine landscape and its simple folk captured in their subtle yet shining moments. Even metal etching and ivory carving were not beyond his consummate abilities.

He was modern yet traditional, daring to be different that led some to label him as “the Other Rebel in Philippine Art.”

The Philippine-Italian Association and the Tantoco-Rustia Foundation will honor this unique pioneer by launching a comprehensive collection of the life and works of Maestro Diosdado Magno Lorenzo, “Art Rebel to Legend” at the National Museum on Tuesday. Written by Alice Guillermo and showcasing over two hundred of the Maestro’s works, this book is destined to become a collector’s item; copies will be available during the launch at special prices. A mini documentary about the Maestro and select pieces of his works will also be viewed on this special occasion.

Should one ask what drove this creative pioneer along his accomplished career and kept him on the path in hard times, the Maestro, a simple man at heart, would mention his beloved wife Lina Paolini, originally from Rome, as his only source of inspiration. The two were wed on Feb. 19, 1933 in an age when mixed cultural marriages were rare.

Yet it prefigured another fusion of cultures – this time 29 years later, on exactly the same date – with birth of the Philippine-Italian Association.

Signora Lorenzo, at the venerable age of 95, twice knighted and iconic to the organization, still holds the post of secretary general and still comes to work daily. Her dedication serves as a beacon of inspiration to generations wishing to walk the path of greater cultural understanding between two varied nations.