Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Labelled the country’s first National Artist in 1972 by then President Marcos, Fernando Amorsolo is
often known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Philippine Art’. The Spanish-trained realist developed a
backlighting technique, where his colorful depictions of local people reflect the radiance of the
Philippine sun. The figures and illuminated landscapes magically glow on the canvas. Despite his
deteriorating health and failing eyesight, he remained prolific until the end, producing up to 10
paintings a month until his death at the age of 80. Amorsolo’s creativity defines the nation’s culture and
heritage to this day.
The Vargas Musuem – found inside the campus of his alma mater, the University of the Philippines,
displays a notable selection of his work.
‘The Fruit Gatherer’, 1950
© Fernando Amorsolo
José Joya (1931-1995)
A Filipino pioneer of Abstract expressionism, multi-media painter José Joya uses bold and vibrant
colours with a variety of painting techniques, layering, loose impasto strokes and controlled drips. His
harmonious colours are influenced by Philippine landscapes and tropical wildlife. His mastery lies in
gestural paintings, where the paint is applied spontaneously on canvas, sometimes directly out of the
tube or through the use of broad strokes with brushes.
‘Granadean Arabesque’, 1958
© Joya
Joya influenced younger artists to explore other mediums such as pottery and printmaking while he
served as the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. In 1964, Joya
represented the country in the Venice Biennial, showcasing the advancement of modern art in the
Philippines.
His most notable painting from 1958, called Granadean Arabesque, is a large scale yellow hued mural
that features clusters of sand and impasto. It can be viewed at the Ateneo Art Gallery in Manila.