Provenance: :
West Gallery

Exhibited: :
West Gallery, Chasms-Saltando-Coalesce,
Quezon City, 1993

ABOUT THE WORK

In 1993, Bernardo Pacquing inaugurated his debut solo exhibition at the West Gallery titled Chasms-Saltando Coalesce, where he first showcased his mastery of contemporary abstraction. Among the works featured was Victorian Principle, one of the earliest works of Pacquing and the first painting that was sold by the artist. The piece combines the essence of Zen aesthetics and minimalism, resulting in a work that presents the expanse of abstract spaces. The delicate application of pastel colors evokes a subdued sense of strength and firmness. Paying homage to the art of Fernando Zóbel, Robert Rauschenberg, and Kurt Schwitters, Pacquing presents an exemplary work of abstraction that unveils the evocative flair of the style. Pacquing’s abstract works were influenced by the midcentury practice of obscuring the line between art and existence. His language of abstraction is a systematic and cautious process of perplexing forms. Impelled by the often-dismissed facets of urban life, Pacquing paints large-scale abstract compositions that reimagine the unremarkable corners of the urban landscape, employing oil paint over an uneven surface. Pacquing obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1989 at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts. He received the Grand Prize in the Art Association of the Philippines Open Art Competition for Painting (Non-Representation) in 1992 and 1999 and the CCP Thirteen Artists Award in 2000. Pacquing received a Freeman Fellowship Grant for a residency at the Vermont Studio Center, the most prestigious international artists’ and writers’ residency program in the United States. The artist has showcased his works in various solo and group exhibitions in the local and international arenas, such as the West Bund Art and Design (2019) at Silverlens, Shanghai and the 16th Asian International Art Exhibition (2001) at Guangdong Museum, China.