On Teusday, February 21 Juvenal Sanso held a public viewing of his latest works at The Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City. A foremost master, Sanso has had a long and stellar career capped by a number of awards and recognitions including a King’s Cross of Isabella knighthood from the King of Spain, membership into the Order of Chevalier from the French Government, and a Presidential Medal of Merit from the Republic of the Philippines. I was quite fond of his work, so I was really excited to meet the man behind the art.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Juvenal Sanso is one of the best-known members of the Philippine Modernist movement. Having graduated from the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, he has as his contemporaries National Artists Jose Joya, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, and Napoleon Abueva (his batchmate in UP). His teachers were National Artists Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo Tolentino.
Arriving at the gallery I was immediately drawn to one of his works. It featured a brightly colored abstraction in hues of green, orange, yellow, and red. The subject was an intricate pattern of colors set amidst a sea of midnight blue, with the moon watching over it in an off-centered position. This style can be seen in most of the pieces on display that night. The pieces were quite low key, but powerful enough to draw one nearer and nearer until finally its intricate details are revealed.
With Sanso, the devil is in the details.
The man himself is nothing short of a true artist. Sanso is a good-natured gentleman who likes to be perceived as one who is very open to other people’s opinions. He was quite animated as he described his adventures in Europe. Sanso loves nature. He loves panting them and he loves the sea. One time he went to a small island to paint. So absorbed was he in his work that when he realized it, water had already risen and he had to carry his tool and his painting to prevent them from getting wet.
I can keep on telling you how awesome Sanso’s works are, but like any work of art they need to be seen first-hand to be appreciated. Don’t worry, you can always check out the photos at the bottom of the post!
Classic Sanso formally opened for public viewing on Tuesday, February 21 at The Podium Mall. For inquiries contact Galerie Joaquin at (632) 634-7954, (632) 709-1488 or e-mail info@galeriejoaquin.com.
Juvenal Sanso opening at the Podium
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