Exploring three centuries of Philippine Art

CEBU, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), in its thrust towards promoting and fostering appreciation of Philippine art among different local communities, celebrated the opening ceremonies of Exploring Three Centuries of Philippine Art last October 2 in the BSP office located along Osmeña Boulevard.

Showcasing 20 priceless masterworks taken from its extensive art collection, the BSP-spearheaded exhibit puts the spotlight on paintings made by Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, Victorio Edades, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Jose Joya and more.

Open to the public, the exhibition takes an active stance in giving Cebuanos a chance to see how progressive art in the Philippines has been, from its featured selection of early 19th century works, to its showcased modernist and contemporary-themed pieces.

Chronicling the rich artistic saga treaded on by Filipino talents, all of Cebu is invited to visit Exploring Three Centuries of Philippine Art, and see for themselves the actual masterworks made by the country's most celebrated and renowned artistic talents.

Exploring Three Centuries of Philippine Art will be on exhibit until October 18, 2013 at the BSP office located along Osmeña Boulevard. The first stop of the exhibit kicked off in La Union earlier this year, and it will be traveling to Davao in November, after Cebu.

Visitors to the exhibit are advised that flash photography of the works is NOT ALLOWED.

"Portrait of Pedro Paterno"

Juan Luna   1882

Oil on board

Juan Luna (1857-1899) was one of the first Filipino artists to gain international recognition. He is known for his masterpiece Spolarium, one of the gold winning entries at the Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts in 1884. His subjects were mostly historical or literary, but he also did several portraits of his friends and family. Aside from painting, Luna was also actively involved in the Philippine Revolution of the late 19th century.

"A La Memoria de mi Querido Tio Sabino"

Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo  1888

Oil on canvas

Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo (1855-1913) was a contemporary of Juan Luna. He gained international recognition when he won one of the silver medals for his painting Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas Al Populacho at the Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts in 1884. Hidalgo painted landscapes and portraits in cool, subtle tones and hazy outlines, making his subjects look dreamlike, idyllic and lyrical.

"Portrait of Andrea Dayrit"

Simon Flores  Circa 1870s

Oil on canvas

Simon Flores (1839-1902) was a leading 19th century painter. He was best known for his miniaturist style of painting done on commissioned portraits of affluent families. He took his painting studies at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura where he studied under Agustin Saez and Lorenzo Guerrero. Through his patron Monsignor Ignacio Tambungi, a priest from Bacalor, Pampanga, he was able to do several commissioned portraits and church decorations. Although he was unable to receive further studies abroad like his contemporaries, Flores won an international award, a silver medal for his painting The Music of Town at the 1976 Philadelphia Exposition.

"Portrait of a Lady"

Ricarte Puruganan   1934

Oil on canvas

Ricarte Puruganan (1912-1998) was a member of the Thirteen Moderns. He studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines and later finished his bachelor's degree in arts at the University of Santo Tomas. He won various local art competitions for his paintings.

"Still Life"

Paz Devera Paterno  1884

Oil on canvas

Paz Devera Paterno (1867-1914) came from the prominent Paterno clan of Quiapo. Of frail health, she was sent to live in Sta Ana by the Pasig River to recuperate. Lorenzo Guerrero and Felix Martinez were two of her tutors in painting. She painted landscapes (as probably seen from her bedroom window) and still lifes. In spite of her poor health, Paterno succeeded in the male-dominated field of painting. Her images show her dexterity in handling the brush and sensitivity to light and shade. Her still lifes are a feast for the eyes using landscapes as an effective background for her cornucopia of luscious fruits.

"Still Life"

Juan Arellano  Undated

Oil on wood

Juan Arellano (1888-1960) was an outstanding architect of the American Period. He pursued his degree in architecture and later his graduate studies in the United States. Greatly influenced by his studies overseas, he patterned his architectural designs after the neo-classical buildings in the U.S. His notable designs are the Manila Post Office, the old Congress building which is now being occupied by the National Museum, the Metropolitan Theater, the pre-WWII Jones Bridge and the Negros Occidental Capitol building in Bacolod. As an artist, he studied under the old masters of Philippine art: Lorenzo Guerrero, Fabian dela Rosa and Toribio Antillon.

"Maytime in Antipolo"

Fernando Amorsolo   1943

Oil on canvas

Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was the first painter to be honored as National Artist for Visual Arts in 1972. His realistic portraits and romantic genre paintings made him one of the most sought-after artists during his time. Amorsolo's mastery of light, also known as backlighting technique, enabled him to capture the Philippine sunlight on his canvasses. His other famous subjects includes landscapes, women and historical paintings.

"Nipa Hut Beside a Duhat Tree"

Jorge Pineda  1929

Oil on canvas

Jorge Pineda (1879-1946) was a painter and leading illustrator during his time. He enrolled at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura and then studied under Teodoro Buenaventura in his school in Sta Cruz, Manila. He did illustrations for several newspapers and publications and later became art director of the Carmelo and Bauermann litography house. Although he was influenced by Fabian dela Rosa in his genre paintings, Pineda created a style of his own using soft colors and light brushwork and painted at a particular time of the day to capture the exact illumination of the scene.

"Valley"

Carlos "Botong" Francisco     1948

Oil on canvas

Carlos "Botong" Francisco (1914-1969) was a famous painter and illustrator. He was best known for his murals of rural scenes and historic events. Separating himself from the traditional style of painting, Francisco, together with Galo Ocampo and Victorio Edades formed the "Triumvirate", a group that pioneered modernist painting in the Philippines. Aside from painting, Botong also illustrated for magazines and comics and did several costume studies for film. In 1973, he was posthumously awarded the title National Artist for Visual Arts.

"Flagellantes"

Galo Ocampo 1951

Oil on canvas

Galo Ocampo (1913-1985) was a member of the Thirteen Moderns and together with Victorio Edades and Carlos Francisco opposed the academic style of the conservatives. He served as curator of the Presidential Museum of Malacañang and later director of the National Museum. He also taught at the University of Santo Tomas and at the Far Eastern University. He was famous for his Brown Madonna of the 1930s, in which he indigenized the image of the Virgin Mary.

"Oton"

Jose Joya 1976

Acrylic on canvas

Jose Joya (1931-1996) was a painter, printmaker and multimedia artist. A master of gestural paintings, he took inspiration from the lush landscapes of the countryside and painted these using heavy impasto techniques, resulting in a spontaneous and dynamic rendition of landscapes. His strong and harmonious colors recall the festive folk traditions of the country. A former dean of the UP College of Fine Arts and a pioneer of abstract expressionism in the country, Joya influenced most of the abstract painters today. For this, he was awarded the title National Artist for Visual Arts in 2003.