Each piece is accompanied by a certificate issued by Ms. Mrs. Luisa Luz-Lansigan confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

The circus performers form an iconic ensemble within the oeuvre of Arturo Luz, and such is the case with the lots at hand – Juggler No. 1, Juggler No. 2, and Cyclist. Luz, who was born in 1926, had a penchant for depicting the festive despite his austere brand of art. For that reason, one might wonder if he encountered the Manila Carnival as a child. The event was like New Year's Eve with all the gaiety and laughter, delighting the Filipino people with parades and pageants. A variety of shows were held, from circus and vaudevilles to slapstick comedies and grand theatrical performances. The annual carnival festival did not last long, though, taking place only from the early 1900s to the late 1930s. Apart from that, it is said that his interest could have in fact started back in the 1950s. In 1952, the artist witnessed a sight that struck him as truly Filipino. He was amazed that four men could ride a single bicycle! That scene made its way into his renowned work titled Bagong Taon, a depiction of three people riding a bicycle and celebrating the New Year. From his Bagon Taon in 1952, Luz continued his artistic journey on exuberant themes throughout the 1950s until the late 1960s when the artist abandoned the vestiges of figuration and explored abstraction. Then, decades later, he embarked on his Celebration, Carnival Forms, and Forms of Amusement in the 1990s. As observed in these Luz paintings, his minimalistic approach is evident through the monochromatic palette and the void of intricate details. The human figures at the center of each canvas are reduced to basic shapes and rendered with improper body proportions to emphasize their linear strength. Here, Luz wanted to exhibit his linear coherence, logical abstraction, and mastery of geometric forms. Luz dedicated the last two decades of his artistic career to recreating his most celebrated themes that are applauded to this day, and one of those was his Carnival Series. Albeit modest in form, that particular series has a certain charm that remains alluring to art collectors and connoisseurs. Two years prior to the creation of these acrylic pieces, Luz was conferred the National Artists Award in 1997. (Isabella Romarate)