Finding Juan Luna at the Lopez Museum

Freeway has always been known for celebrating the lives of prominent Filipino artists. This time is no different as Freeway chose to honor one of the country’s best painters: Juan Luna.

Juan Luna is revered as one of the greatest Filipino artists in Philippine history with masterpieces such as Spolarium, The Death of Cleopatra and The Blood Compact. Not only did he excel in artistry, he was also a political activist during the time of the Philippine Revolution in the late 19th century.  He was born on Oct. 23, 1857 in the town of Badoc in Ilocos Norte to Don Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posadas and Doña Laureana Novicio y Ancheta.

Luna’s early interest in art was due to the influence of his brother Manuel, who was also a painter. He received his degree in Bachelor of Arts at the Ateneo de Manila and enrolled later at Escuela Nautica de Manila where he became a sailor.  He took lessons under the famous painting teacher Lorenzo Guerrero and also enrolled at Academia de Dibujo y Pintura under the Spanish artist Agustin Saez.

In 1877, Luna traveled to Europe to continue his studies and enrolled at Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. It was in 1881 when he received his first major achievement as an artist and this is through winning a silver medal at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of Fine Arts) for his work The Death of Cleopatra. From there, he continued to gain recognition and respect as an artist. He kept on impressing the European and Filipino society through the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes with outstanding works such as the Spolarium, which won gold in 1884, and The Battle of Lepanto in 1887.

The life and works of Juan Luna were the focal point at the Lopez Museum recently when Freeway held Freeway Art — a show that features the works of different national artists translated into wearable fashion. It was definitely a grand fusion of art and fashion as the event was attended by prominent personalities, fashion bloggers, art enthusiasts, critics and many more.

Of course, the celebration wouldn’t be complete without the works of Juan Luna himself. Guests were able to view a number of his key pieces through the Lopez Museum’s on going exhibit, Trajectories, which will run until the end of the month.

The exhibit also features the prominent works of Felix Hidalgo plus masterpieces of esteemed National Artists such as Vicente Manansala, HR Ocampo and Fernando Amorsolo.

The program, hosted by Lexi Schulze, started with a video presentation of Juan Luna’s life and works. Freeway was ecstatic to have art historian Santiago Albano Pilar and Lopez Memorial Museum director Mercedes Lopez Vargas who both talked about Luna’s achievements and masterpieces.

The real highlight of the night though was the exclusive fashion show as guests were able to catch a glimpse of the first ever Filipino Masters Collector’s Series Juan Luna Collection. Unveiled that night was a 24-piece collection, including a few shirts for men, that depicted famous Luna pieces such as El Flautista, I am Cold, Una Dama Francesca, España y Filipinas, Fencing Positions, Rice Harvesting, Various Subjects and A Roman.

Female models worked the runway wearing Janylin shoes. All models were glammed up by Piandré Salon and VMV Hypoallergenics.

(Catch more of the Juan Luna collection at Freeway stores nationwide or shop online at www.freewayonline.com.ph. You may also visit its Facebook page www.facebook.com/FreewayOnline.)