Francisco M. Verano unveils his latest abstract works on canvas along with older sculptures and paintings dating back to 1959, in the new show “Fragmentos,” opening June 20 at VMeme Contemporary Art Gallery.
Verano has been well known for his figurative landscape paintings and sculptures made of unconventional and indigenous materials (i.e. “Bamboo Fugue” Series, now housed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Commission for Culture and the Arts; “House on Stilts” Series of VMeme Contemporary Art Gallery Collection).
His abstract paintings and sculptures have largely remained unseen by the public.
“Fragmentos” reveals a trove of largely unseen and unexamined Verano works, which may serve as a prelude to a more in-depth art historical catalogue of the artist’s works.
The exhibit unveils 30 paintings and nine sculptures alongside his very first recognized sculpture, “Stone Idol,” which won him the Art Association of the Philippines’ First Prize in Sculpture in 1959.
In his paintings, Verano wields with intensity the blue palette, moving on to the richness of warm colors from ochre to yellow and burnt sienna, then receding into monotone shades of brown and gray. The process of slowly discarding the intensity of hues can be likened to the movement of time, or seasons even, if one is to find the nuances of his landscape paintings transported into his abstractions. In one breath the viewer is called to the coolness of the sky and water and then the warmth of the earth and trees, after which she is called into the vagueness and stillness of dawn or dusk.
Francisco M. Verano (b. 1937) graduated with a degree in Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
He has worked as an advertising professional since his graduation in 1962. He has headed the creative arts-marketing communications department of several reputable companies, such as Planter’s Products Inc. In 1991, he set up his own advertising and public relations company.
He received the Award for Excellence in Advertising Art in the First Philippine Advertising Congress in 1969. He was president of the UP College of Fine Arts Alumni Foundation (1983-1991) and was president of the Saturday Group in 2003.
The exhibit is curated by Sheryll Torres and CreatingSPACE Inc.
“Fragmentos” will run until July 26. Call 9645951, 9750052, 0917-5685939; visit www.vmemecontemporary.com and www.franciscoverano.com.