The senses of Juvenal Sanso

Born in Spain; raised in the Philippines and now a French resident, our perennial bachelor is a Filipino artist who commands international respect. "My roots are in the Philippines; let’s just say that the branches are in Europe," says Juvenal Sanso.

Juvy’s father was a sculptor who transformed scrap iron into decorative tables and chairs. After the Japanese war, Sanso Sr. rebuilt his wrought-iron furniture business, Arte Español. He asked Juvy to learn to draw hoping that artistic training would secure the company’s future when Juvenal inherited the business.

Learn to draw, he did indeed. In the process of doing so, Juvenal Sanso discovered that his passion was art itself. Ever since, his fertile mind has produced thousands of paintings exhibited in hundreds of one-man shows. Critics are still amazed at his 1976 feat when he showed a 1,000 work retrospective during the IMF summit meeting here. As if this was not impressive enough, in 1989, he was featured in no less than six simultaneous exhibits in Manila’s museums and galleries.

On the eve of yet another art show at the SM Megamall Art Center, Sanso reflects on the joys of being mature, Sancho Panza and calisthenics in bed.

Do you believe in God?

Am truly an agnostic. It’s my answer to the horrors I saw in the war. I’m open to all kinds of suggestions. The only thing is that I don’t want to kill or be killed in the name of God.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

Painting. My being devoted to my painting and art.

What is your most fervent wish?

Not to lose my passion for painting, communicating. Being a note in the symphony of life and knowing that I sang my note in tune.

What book influenced your life?

Don Quixote. The idealism that goes as far as self-sacrifice.

Which hero of fiction can you most identify with?

Don Quixote with a smattering of Sancho Panza. When I am painting, I am Don Quixote and when I have to earn money to eat, then I am Sancho.

Which historical figure would you like to have been?

Picasso. He was definitely the genius of his century; a man of conviction, passion. As a political figure, he was faithful to his ideals. His "Guernica" defied the Nazi rule.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I have so many defects. I am so sensitive when exposed to criticism of my paintings. It is like me standing out there in the nude.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Jealousy and envy. It carries people to extremes of cruelty and turns them into traitors.

How do you start your day?

Calisthenics in bed for about 20 minutes. Then I rush to get my leche con cafe. I have very little breakfast because sometimes I sit for five hours straight in my studio.

What is your current state of mind?

Being mature is not the hell I thought it would be. It has many advantages.

If you were to die, who or what would you like to come back as?

Picasso. He was such a colossus.

If you had the chance to change something in your life, what would that be?

My war experience of the Japanese occupation. It was awful. My dreams are still desperate nightmares.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My total freedom and liberty.

What sounds do you love?

In Paris, I listen 24 hours a day to two radio stations, France Culture and France Musique. Classical music with critics. I owe them a lot of marvelous moments.

What is the first thing you look at when you see a man/woman?

Her smile, then her eyes to see if she is sincere. Then I wander around...

If you could date any celebrity in the world, who would that be?

Picasso. I once had the chance to meet him but did not because I felt that I was not worthy of being introduced.