His uninhibited social commentary is his paint, his exposure in public administration and government, his paintbrush and the Philippines’ conflicted political landscape, his canvas. With his incisive portrayal of the issues deeply ingrained Philippine politics, self-taught Filipino artist Luis Lorenzana has burst into the local and international art scene.
(Luis Lorenzana’s works featured in Leon Gallery)
Luis — having formed a career in working for the senate and who previously painted as a means of self-expression — didn’t realize he would eventually make a serious name for himself in the discriminating world of art, until he had rediscovered a large body of his early work created in the years between 2005 to 2008 that reflected a distinct political awareness.
Not knowing the hidden value his creations were holding, the pieces were shown to an international collector who had close ties to the world’s leading museums, and possessed a strong interest in promoting art from the Philippines to an international audience.
The collector was instantly moved by what he saw, riveted by the artistic magnitude produced by a single creative hand. Soon after, this collector made the decision to acquire the entire body of work, naming it the Luis Lorenzana Archival Collection.
The collection has attracted international curators and art world professionals with its fresh aesthetic, witty social commentary and its relationship to popular culture and timely political issues.
The works are an astonishing record of one Filipino artist’s process and development, as well as a colorful record of the Philippines’ current events that mirror the entire world’s political and social experiences in more ways than one.
An accompanying book to this collection featuring in-depth details about Luis’ journey as an artist and the context of his work will also be launched this month. It will be exclusively sold at Leon Gallery and online at Artbooks.ph.
The Luis Lorenzana Archival Collection exhibition will run until Feb. 26, 2017 at Leon Gallery, Corinthian Plaza, Paseo de Roxas corner Gamboa St., Legazpi Village, Makati. It will be open for viewing from Mondays to Saturdays, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.
(It has always been the practice of Lorenzana to use ornate frames that will complement his artwork)
(Exceptional creations from a fresh perspective)
(Luis’ work reflects a distinct political awareness)
(The Luis Lorenzana Archival Collection)
(Michelle Yun, author of Lorenzana Archival Collection, and Luis Lorenzana beside his work entitled Congrie)
