León Gallery’s Two Navels: Deciphering the Identity of Filipino Art and Artists
What makes a Filipino artist? Is it the fact that he/she is of Filipino descent, or is it the style and subject? These questions have concerned the country’s artists and critics for decades. For people like Nick Joaquin, the answers are just as ambiguous as the questions: “The identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what is his identity.â€
León Gallery has decided to resurrect these questions at the country’s first-ever curated auction, Two Navels. In line with The Magnificent September Auction 2016, the auction will be held on Sept. 10, 2016 at the León Gallery.
Curators Ramon Villegas and Lisa G. Nakpil have gathered works by lauded artists, trained locally and abroad, such as Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Carlos “Botong†Francisco, Hernando R. Ocampo, and Ang KiuKok. The paintings will be available for viewing from Sept. 3-9, 2016. Seventeen artworks will be displayed, while 16 will be auctioned off.
Villegas proudly pointed out during a recent media preview that the especially curated show, much like Joaquin’s novel, points out the dichotomy which classifies artists from either being too Filipino (ala Botong and Borlongan) or not Filipino enough (ala Amorsolo), as some art enthusiasts might argue. Thus, the focus on art is lost.
“Using the story as a device for identifying the Filipino persona, the exhibit puts together pieces that demonstrate what being Filipino is through the works of various renowned artists,†he further expounds.
Just like Joaquin’s works, the art in the curated exhibit also shows the kind of discipline – and not just talent – that the artists put into their work. Joaquin, who was a spirited drinker (according to the curators), allegedly wrote everyday of his adult life, no matter how drunk he was the night before, or how little his inspiration was. The same goes for the artists featured, who breathed and lived art everyday, before perfecting their craft?
The auction will be held on September 10, 2016 at 2:00pm. Leon Gallery is located at G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more information, visit www.Leon-Gallery.com or contact Leon Gallery at +632-8562781 or info@leon-gallery.com.
(Mangangalakal by Vicente Manansala)
(Pirit by Joven Mansit)
(High, Over Nagano by Jerry Elizalde Navarro)
(The auction will be held on September 10, 2016, Saturday)
(Barcelona by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz)
 (Kalantiao at Lubluban by Carlos Botong Francisco)
(A Series of Incomplete Landscape by Buen Calubayan)
(Musicians by Arturo Luz)
(Crucifixion by Ang Kiukok)
