JUVENAL SANSO IS ONE GIANT OF A MAN.



If at all, the name has become synonymous not only with great art but also with being a trailblazer. He has become known for stellar and major accomplishments.



In 1966, Sanso had a 20-year retrospective show at the Makati Commercial Center. In 1974, a 25-year retrospective was held for him at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.



In 1976, in commemoration of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund summit meetings in Manila, he held a one-man retrospective of some 1,000 works, released a portfolio of 10 lithographs on Philippine subjects, and was the subject of a major book written by Alejandro Roces.



In 1989, he made a milestone by doing six simultaneous exhibits in Manila in three museums, two cultural centers and one art gallery. And in 1994, he was the main feature in a 16-gallery exhibition that opened Artwalk of Megamall.



This month, as he celebrates his 80th birthday, Sanso is all set to once again set an example of excellence with his show “Premier Sanso: A Show of Shows.”



Art lovers can go on a virtual journey with the master painter himself sharing with them aspects of his career as an expressionist painter, printmaker, photographer, textile designer, set and costume designer for several opera houses in Paris, including the Toulouse Opera House and the Aix-en-Provence Festival.



The huge drawings (ink on paper) of moving landscapes are done with Sanso’s characteristic deft strokes. Put alongside his later landscapes and seascapes awash with colors, these black-and-white works give viewers a glimpse of how his works have continued to evolve.



Sanso’s “Leuers” was awarded Print of the Year by Cleveland Museum of Art, a distinction the artist shares with Henri Matisse and Salvador Dali.



Included in the show are haunting landscapes from his early sojourns to Brittany.



Also covered are works from his baklad and barong-barong series.



The show will also have several of his new and exciting works in various sizes, including large never-before-seen works. Sanso has never before shown paintings of these sizes and magnitudes.



In 2006, Sanso was awarded the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit. A year later, he was honored the distinguished Cross of Isabela by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Last year, he was awarded the Chevalier de l’Orde des Artes et des Letters by the French government.



“Premier Sanso: A Show of Shows” opens Nov. 4 at the Sapphire Ballroom, Mandarin Oriental Suites, L/4, Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City. It runs until Nov. 23. It is organized by Galerie Joaquin (tel. 7239253). Log on to www.juvenalsanso. com.