Ateneo Art Gallery celebrates 50 with 'Lee Aguinaldo: In Retrospect'

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, Ateneo Art Gallery presents “Lee Aguinaldo: In Retrospect.” There will be a special preview of the exhibit on Oct. 24, Sunday, at the anniversary gala of the museum.

Lee Aguinaldo (1933-2007) belonged to the first generation of abstractionists in the 1950s. A self-taught painter, his name is often identified with styles ranging from abstract expressionist to hard-edged and color field paintings. 

He began his artistic career when he was just barely 20 as among the artists in the Philippine Art Gallery (PAG) annual show in 1952.  He was also part of the landmark show titled “The First Exhibition of Non-Objective Art Exhibition in Tagala” held in the PAG in 1953. Other featured artists were Fernando Zobel, Vicente Manansala, H. R. Ocampo, Arturo Luz, Victor Oteyza, and Nena Saguil.  Aguinaldo held his first solo show in 1956 and later, in the 1960s, won major awards in the Art Association of the Philippines Annual art competitions. 

Although he was more known for his abstract works, Aguinaldo created figurative works throughout his life. This exhibition also aims to present this side of the artist as a significant part of his output. He was among, if not the first, to adopt ideas of Pop Art by incorporating printed images from glossy fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar into his oil paintings, particularly the “Galumph Series.”

“Explosion No. 141”

Aguinaldo also loved to experiment with different processes inspired by his up-to-date resources of art magazines. His mixed-media works incorporate frottage or surface rubbings, pencil, image transfers, collages and acrylic emulsion, reminiscent of the works of American Pop artists Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers and Christo.

In the mid-1970s until the early 1980s, Aguinaldo closely collaborated with his photographer friends: the late portrait photographer Butch Baluyut and Wig Tysmans. This interest on the graphic arts produced a series of photo collages taken from the print media and photographs “flattened” or sealed with acrylic emulsion.

“Lee Aguinaldo: In Rertospect” will run until Feb. 5, 2011. The exhibit is curated by Victoria Herrera and Clarissa Chikiamco. The schedule for curators talks areas follows: Victoria Herrera, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m., and Clarissa Chikiamco, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. Gallery hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This exhibition gives tribute to Aguinaldo by presenting his many facets as an artist. In the process it hopes to give a better understanding of him and his personal struggles. Known as a lover of jazz and classical music, the exhibit will incorporate auditory elements, that is, musical selections from his favorite playlist featuring artists like Bill Evans (Aguinaldo’s second cousin), Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Heitor Villalobos, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. 

At the anniversary gala will be the launch of In the Eye of Modernity a special composition by Francis de Veyra inspired by the modern art collection of the Ateneo Art Gallery, and the unveiling of a marker made by National Artist Arturo Luz to honor the museum’s founding benefactor Fernando Zobel. The proceeds of the gala will go to the museums art acquisition fund.

For information, call IC Jaucian at 426-6488 or e-mail ijaucian@ateneo.edu.