Exhibitions

There are few artists who truly define the ethos of Modernism better than National Artist Arturo Luz (Visual Arts '97). Distilling what appears to be figurations into their essential lines, shapes, and forms – and often against the alluring simplicity of a minimalist backdrop – Luz has pioneered and defined Philippine abstract minimalism. Transforming mystical cityscapes and temples into blocks, circles, colors, and lines, Luz is a firm stalwart of the international movement for minimalist abstraction—in the same vein as the likes of Gerardo Rueda, Isamu Noguchi, and Fernando Zobel.

In celebration of National Arts Month, Galerie Joaquin is presenting a unique exhibition titled "Essential Luz." This will be composed of 30 works done by the master from years 1997-2004. The exhibit starts with an opening reception on February 27, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and runs until March 14, 2013.

Galerie Joaquin Main is located at the corner of P. Guevarra Street and Montessori Lane in San Juan City. They may be reached through their landline at (632) 723-9418 or (632) 7239253 or emailed at info@galeriejoaquin.com. Please visit their Website at www.galeriejoaquin.com.

The works come from the private collection of a noted businessman and his wife who have one of the most extensive collections of Arturo Luz artworks.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Arturo Luz. Since 2006, four of his most important and major shows have been held at Galerie Joaquin. It is a continuation of the series of major Arturo Luz shows the Galerie had hosted in the past since 2006. The collector couple, with the support of National Artist Luz in cooperation with Galerie Joaquin have come up with this exhibit to help in the education about the works of the master thereby helping in the campaign against fakes and forgeries.

'Essential Luz' takes representatives from Luz's classic series, including his acclaimed cityscapes. 'Cities of the Past,' for instance, presents the mysticism and grandeur of a city long since gone. Luz, in a Cultural Center of the Philippines documentary, recounts that much of his cityscapes and temples have been influenced by the allure of lost cities that he'd encountered in his travels—Borobudur in Indonesia and Angkor Wat in Cambodia among them. By taking his memories and extracting the essential components of form, Luz creates a dazzling city of the imagination. "Essential Luz" presents a comprehensive survey of works of the master from Imaginary Landscapes, Palitana Temples, Rajasthan, White Temples to Cities of the Past.

Luz was born in Manila on November 20, 1926. After the University of Santo Tomas, he received a scholarship at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. He continued his education at the Brooklyn Museum Art School in New York in 1950 and at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris in 1951.

'Essential Luz' is a timely and a never before exhibited survey of the works of this distinguished National Artist.