Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

ABOUT THE WORK

Through her Calado Series, Araceli Limcaco-Dans elevated the art of still life into an almost palpable, authentic representation of Filipino culture and heritage. Limcaco-Dans introduced the Calado Series in 1986 in her solo exhibition at the Museum of Philippine Art (MOPA), which featured portraits and watercolor still lifes depicting hand-embroidered piña fabric. The book Kayamanan: Biographies of Philippine Visual Artists describe Limcaco-Dans’ calado paintings as “highly realistic renderings of embroidery of jusi and piña combined with flowers, baskets, and boxes to create meaningful juxtapositions.” Limcaco-Dans’ Calado Series evokes the works of 19th-century Filipino pioneer secular artists Damian Domingo, Justiniano Asuncion, Simon Flores, and Antonio Malantic, who depicted the natives in their native wardrobes. The calado style of hand embroidery, used in Filipiniana clothing, originated from Lumban, Laguna, known as the “Embroidery Capital of the Philippines.” Hence, it is referred to as Burdang Lumban. According to the Lumban-based barong maker Heritage Barong, the calado is executed by pulling out the fibers in the fabric to reduce the fiber count. The remaining intact fibers are stitched into various open-thread patterns. Limcaco-Dans evokes the exquisite and intricate craftsmanship of the calado in her “embroidered paintings,” emphasizing her keen eye for minute details and artistic rigor. National Artist for Dance Leonor Orosa Goquingo praised LimcacoDans’ Calado series, referring to them as “perfection itself, the epitome of elegance.” In her calado paintings, LimcacoDans does not employ whites in her fabric; it is the surface of the unpainted canvas. While most of her calados feature other images, Limcaco-Dans depicts, at times, the hand-embroidered cloth in its sole, unaccompanied state, like in the case of this particular piece. In a work that speaks of sublimity and the beauty of the indigenous, Limcaco-Dans invites the viewer to revel in the intricacy and brilliance of our native embroidery style. A delicate yet powerfully immersive piece, Limcaco-Dans reinforces her enduring homage to her native roots. (A.M.)