PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED COUPLE

Provenance: León Gallery, The Spectacular Mid Year Auction 2016,
June 11, 2016, Makati City, Lot 34.

ABOUT THE WORK

Self-confessed to be highly influenced by Cubism and Chinese vertical paintings, Romeo Tabuena is often classified as belonging to the postwar Neo-Realists movement, with his then fresh approach to form sometimes compared to Chinese calligraphic brush stroke. This particular piece titled Mexico is undoubtedly inspired by the titular country in which the artist called home for over 40 years. After studying both art and architecture from the University of the Philippines and the Mapua Institute of Technology, Tabuena set his sights on New York as a way of broadening his talents and skills. While in New York city, Tabuena became enamored by the works of a number of Mexican artists such as David Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo. In 1955, Tabuena travelled to San Miguel de Allende to view Tamayo’s works. Enamored by both the art and the culture, Tabuena decided to stay. The bustling sounds of the former Spanish colony was very much like his homeland, thus Tabuena was able to draw inspiration from both cultures with imposing on either. The vibrant and rich sights and sounds of Mexico perfectly complemented the traditional techniques of his artistry, allowing him to create innovative works of art that merged together a variety of moods and temperaments.