Leon Gallery pays tribute to Romulo Olazo

For artist Romulo Olazo, who has been known for mastering the art of abstract, it’s been a life well-lived, full of colors. And this September, his signature masterpieces are exclusively included in the magnificent roster of artworks and objet d'art to be auctioned at Leon Gallery.

Permutation Series No. 6' by Romulo Olazo

Olazo’s signature Diaphanous series, which he had worked on for more than 30 years, take center stage at the Magnificent Auction 2015. By now, they are considered as some of the most canonical works in contemporary Philippine art, featuring veritable visions of light achieved though freehand and gestural painting methods, as well as templates and patterns.

From the Diaphonous 230, where he projects a theatrical and operatic presence, to Diaphanous 285, a 1981 work which shows a sweeping dynamic verve that appeals to the viewer. The great contrast between the fragility and the dark background is also shown in this particular work through warm tones of orange, perfectly layered to present surprising structural directions. 

This signature abstraction, which is often monochromatic and looks like touching images from a film negative, is also presented in Diaphanous signed and dated 1977. In this work, the color is reserved to cool monochrome greens to achieve ethereal effects.

Olazo’s recorded artworks spiked in number during the late ‘70s, and this is the period when he released the Mini-Diaphanous paintings. At the Leon Gallery auction, four Mini Diaphonous paintings can be found, which “echo nature, makes pictographs” by transforming abstraction into a deep expression, according to Ray Albano in 1978.

But aside from the Diaphonous series, the Magnificent Auction 2015 also draws light to Olazo’s Permutations, with Permutation Series No. 86 signed and dated 1994. From this, one can see a kind of cubist image formed by the overlapping pages showing through their irregular gaps. 

Happening on September 12, 2015, 2 PM, these Olazo masterpieces are set to be auctioned along with the National Artist Juan Luna’s untitled work, featuring a comely European lady in full figure, Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Boti Garapa!” circa 1946 and Fernando Zobel’s “Sin Titulo” to name a few. But the main highlight is Benedicto Cabrera’s largest “Sabel” to be auctioned in the history, a portrait of a real life vagabond who used to roam around Bambang district in Sampaloc where the artist grew up.

“It has always been our commitment to uplift Filipino talent, culture and history through the arts; and it is with great pride that the works of these renowned artists have found home at Leon Gallery. Through this, we pay tribute to their notable legacy and skills, like Romulo Olazo,” said Leon Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon.

Visit Leon Gallery located at the G/F, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more details, visit http://leon-gallery.com/.