Provenance: Galeria San Miguel, Mexico Private Collection, Spain

ABOUT THE WORK

The art of Romeo Tabuena is admired for its combination of Filipino and Mexican cultural themes. Aside from countryside sceneries, his paintings are also inhabited by native plants, traditional houses, and folk figures. For the lot at hand, Fruit Vendor, this acrylic piece exhibits his creative and unique experimentation with cubist elements. His prismatic deconstruction and rendition of elements were able to fluently translate the reality of his subjects into the brilliant planar figures that have astounded his audiences time and again. Tabuena had the opportunity to study abroad and showcase his talent, as well as garner acclaim and accolades. In 1955, he moved to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, where he would paint for decades to come. Yet, despite residing far from his homeland, his art remained in touch with his Filipino roots. His fondness for the cultural idylls of the Philippines and Mexico has allowed him to devise a distinctive quality to his oeuvres. The works he produced while in Mexico exhibit colors from the entire spectrum and feature subjects such as villagers and street vendors. The cubist maestro’s use of such closeto-home themes has evolved over the years, and despite the many advancements in his style, he has retained that unmistakable Tabuena flair. (Isabella Romarate)