Sanso leads artists in ‘Fleurs, Flores, Flowers’ show at The Podium

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Juvenal Sanso is joined by three exceptional rising artists  Isabel Campa, Felix Tiglao, and Jovan Benito  in “Fleurs, Flores, Flowers,” an exhibition presented by Galerie Joaquin, which is on view starting today at the second floor atrium of The Podium, along ADB Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Juvenal Sanso contributes several new works to this exhibition, such as “Velvet Dreams,” an amazing revue of red and green on a still life motif with the ever-present “Sanso Moon” in the distance, as well as “A Joyful Merriment.” The floral works of Sanso still manages to conjure up the tranquility and peace the artist found in his practice.

Each of the three upcoming artists also brings something new to floral compositions.

Isabel Campa works primarily in watercolor, so her works are dreamy summer flowers in the gentle yet hard-to-control medium. Campa presents works such as “Bush Behind the House,” which modulates the colors blue and yellow as accents to a pure white bouquet. Her “Vase on the Table” is a still life in the Impressionist tradition of bold brushstrokes and use of colors to denote feelings — in this case, tranquility and calm.

Felix Tiglao is already well-known for his fantastic Filipiniana scenes, but in this exhibition he literally zooms-in on flowers, giving viewers close-up “macro” floral paintings. Works such as “Bicolana” relish every detail, as the soft red of the petals blend in with the pollinated central core — each crease and line painstakingly and mimetically replicated with a stunning technique.

Jovan Benito creates Filipiniana works of genre scenes with her figures amongst flowers. The artist’s colorful, attractive and quirky characters are combined with her bright depiction of flora. In “Flower Blooms,” for instance, viewers see her figures surrounded by a cacophony of stunning flora, depicting the ideal Philippine rural summer scene in a manner that is approachable but meaningful.

The show is on view until May 19. For information, call 723-9418, visit www.galeriejoaquin.com or drop by Galerie Joaquin’s Podium branch, lower ground level of The Podium.