Key representative works by major Philippine artists will be up for grabs during León Gallery’s Spectacular Midyear Auction on June 9.

“There are various representation of periods of works of Mauro Malang Santos, José Joya and Vicente Manansala,” Jaime Ponce de León said.

Eliminating excessive brushwork, National Artist Joya’s 1976 oil-on-canvas “Abstract” aims for more austere geometric abstractions. It has a starting bid of P5 million.

Another significant piece is Ang Kiukok’s 1982 oil-on-canvas “Man with Fish,” which shows an emaciated man holding a gigantic fish. Bidding will start at P4 million.

Malang’s 1997 oil-on-canvas “Tsismis,” which shows abstracted geometry of female figures, has a starting price of P2.2 million.

The imagery in Nena Saguil’s 1966 oil-on-canvas “Cosmos Autremere” consists of biological signs representing fundamental life processes in a cosmic setting. Floor price is P800,000.

Meanwhile, National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera’s 1989 oil-on-canvas “Woman Sitting” depicts a composed and elegant woman with her bare shoulders showing. It has a starting bid of P3 million.

Known for his “Diaphanous” and “Permutation” series, Romulo Olazo also did great work in other nonobjective experimentations, such as his 1992 acrylic-on-paper “Untitled #287.” Its floor price is P180,000.

Juvenal Sanso’s acrylic-on-paper “A Sea of Flowers” (circa 1990s) lets the viewers gain access to the outline of the artist’s inventive forms reduced to their monochromatic grandeur. It will be auctioned off starting at 200,000.

In Angelito Antonio’s 1981 oil-on-canvas “Mending Nets,” two women are engrossed in a conversation while darning a net. Bidding begins at P200,000.

National Artist Cesar Legaspi’s untitled 1981 oil-on-canvas features biomorphic forms that look like crystallized minerals. It has a starting price of P800,000.

Also an important piece is Danilo Dalena’s 1996 oil-on-canvas “Lubid (Quiapo Ilalim Series),” which presents a pictorial space covered with numerous figures in seemingly inexhaustible stances, attitudes and gestures. Floor price is P800,000.

There are three Dalena paintings in the auction that represent each of his three oeuvres: the Alibangbang, Jai-Alai and Quiapo series.

Cid Reyes’ 2017 acrylic-on-canvas “Black Night 2,” which has a starting bid of P100,00, evokes the nocturnal romance through its gestural dashes.

Ronald Ventura’s 2008 oil-on-canvas “Scream II” features a disturbing imagery of a face with eyes closed and mouth agape, as though the figure is letting out a cry. It has a starting price of P4 million.

Other exciting contemporary works to be bidded out are by Marcel Antonio, Jon Jaylo, Edwin Wilwayco and José John Santos III. –CONTRIBUTED

Auction preview will be on June 2 to 8, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Formal bidding on June 9 will start at 2 p.m., at León Gallery, Makati City. Visit www.leon-gallery.com.