Arts and Books, Headlines

Joya’s untitled 1957 abstract, Ang Kiukok’s 1966 Station of the Cross, Ventura’s luminous nude–highlights of ‘Kingly Treasures’ auction

BY Brylle B. Tabora

November 19, 2018
5:03 am

León Gallery has rounded up 167 pieces of artworks, antiques and objets d’art from prestigious provenances for its Kingly Treasures Auction 2018 on Dec. 1.

León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de León said one of the highlights in the auction is José Joya’s 1957 untitled masterpiece, where there is a strong influence of Franz Kline and the New York School at its height and during Joya’s first trip to the United States.

“The work was acquired many years ago from the Luz Gallery by an American couple who kept the painting in the US all these years,” Ponce de León said.

“Eighth Station: Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem,” by Ang Kiukok

Starting price is P8 million.

National Artist Ang Kiukok’s 1996 oil-on-canvas “Eighth Station: Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem” depicts Jesus carrying the cross while a woman singularly depicted kneels before him. Bidding likewise starts at P8 million.

Another highlight is National Artist Vicente Manansala’s 1973 oil-on-canvas “Mother and Child” depicts a mother sewing as she watches over a child sleeping peacefully on a hammock. Floor price is P7 million.

Zobel, Legaspi, Zalameda

Fernando Zobel’s untitled abstract work, in which bidding begins at P4 million, exhibits eastern sensibilities complemented by Western style techniques and composition.

In his 1978 untitled oil-on-wood painting, National Artist Cesar Legaspi conjoins man and beast as one in a visceral weft. Bidding starts at P3 million.

In Oscar Zalameda’s oil-on-canvas “Sailboats,” the numerous adjacent curving planes to depict the boats, create a lively sense of spatial relationships. It has a floor price of P1.2 million.

Mauro Malang Santos’ 1975 oil-on-canvas “Still Life” creates a tell-tale effect with the artist’s characteristic colorful manner of depicting the details of the flower. Bidding starts at 4 million.

Part of his Diaphanous series, Romulo Olazo’s 2013 oil on canvas “Diaphanous B-CCXI” has a starting price of P3 million. Through a technique only known to the artist, Olazo applied oil paint on the surface of the canvas to achieve magisterial translucent forms.

Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera’s 1972 acrylic-on-paper “A Society Conscious Filipina” showcases the elegance of Filipiniana fashion while making a social commentary. Floor price is P1.6 million.

Foremost abstractionist Lao Lian Ben meditates on the way light inhabits surface in his 1976 oil-on-wood “Tryst,” which has a starting bid of 1.6 million.

Danilo Danela’s 1982 oil-on-canvas “Game Over,” part of his Jai-Alai Series, has a starting bid of P2 million.

A circa 1960 Florencio Concepcion abstract done during his stint in Rome will also be auctioned off.

Another highlight is the 1970 “Tikbalang” by Solomon Saprid from the Alenandro Roces Collection.

Painted in 1909, Félix Resurrección Hidalgo oil-on-canvas “Sailing off the Cliffs of Étretat in Normandy” shows sailboats skimming the waters off the town of Étretat in Normandy. It also has a starting bid of P8 million.

Amorsolo’s classic 1949 oil-on-canvas “Planting Rice,” showing farmers hard at work with Mt. Mayon as the background, has a starting bid of P4 million.