The Spanish-born Jovenal Sanso, who grew up in the Philippines, has produced a treasure trove of artworks inspired by other than his usual sources such as flowers and the Brittany landscape. Prepare to be surprised in this latest exhibit of the master artist’s 33 works.
To honor him on his 92nd birthday, Galerie Francesca at Festival SuperMall is holding an ongoing exhibit featuring 33 of the best works of master artist Jovenal Sanso. Dubbed as “Sanso: Unexpected,” it is arguably a fitting tribute to Spanish-born Sanso, a Presidential Medal of Merit awardee, who’s heart and sensibilities have always been Filipino.
Sanso, who emigrated from Catalonia, Spain with his family to the Philippines when he was just four, is known mostly for his floral works and his Brittany series. But real connoisseurs know that the creativity of the master artist cannot be bound by market forces, which focus only on these two subjects that are most familiar to the public.
In his 70 years as an artist, Sanso has explored not only a variety of themes, but a variety of art forms as well. He not only painted, but also excelled in printmaking, opera set and costume design, textile design and cliché verre. He even acted in several plays.
In its desire to educate the public, Galerie Francesca, with research support and authentication from Fundacion Sanso, presents 33 works from six of the seven decades of Sanso’s illustrious career. These works are from Sanso’s personal collection, which he only entrusted before to museums, and to collectors who understood and appreciated his artistry deeply. As such, they are a revelation to many who have grown familiar only to his floral and Brittany series, hence the title “Sanso: Unexpected.”
Highlights of this exhibition include dated works from 1963, a textile design from the 1960s, a singular and very rare cityscape, dated works from the 1970s, a waterfall painting and a large and important reverse series painting that bridges his reverse painting to his Brittany series from the 1980s, two works on paper from the 1980s, which combine his floral series and his Brittany series, and three canvas paintings from his Moderno and Abstract series done in the 2000s.
The importance of this exhibition cannot be understated, as these subjects enrich and deepen the public’s understanding of the breadth of Sanso’s body of work. “Sanso: Unexpected” is ongoing until December 19.
Presented by Galerie Francesca, the exhibit is located at the 2nd Level Expansion Wing, Civic Drive, Festival SuperMall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
For inquiries, call 09055285652 / 09178461455, or email us at info@galeriefrancesca.com.
