Provenance: Private collection, Europe

ABOUT THE WORK

Zalameda’s Garden of Delights An internationally acclaimed Filipino artist, Oscar Zalameda led a vibrant life largely spent abroad, particularly at sea. His high-society connections allowed him to indulge in his love for the waters. These travels abroad exposed him to a diverse range of cultures and experiences. These influences significantly shaped his art, creating a unique blend of his personal experiences and artistic expression Hailing from the province of Quezon, Zalameda went to Manila to study at the University of Santo Tomas. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he ventured into the foreign land of San Francisco to study art in 1953 before leaving for Mexico to practice mural techniques. Later, he also studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts and the Sorbonne in Paris. Oscar Zalameda’s works have been the centerpiece of numerous exhibitions in major museums and galleries and have found their way into many significant private collections across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. His artistic prowess has been acknowledged with numerous awards and recognitions. Notably, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos honored Zalameda with a personal exhibition at the Malacañang Palace in 1966. Zalameda led a vibrant life largely spent abroad, particularly at sea. His high-society connections allowed him to indulge in his love for the waters. These travels abroad exposed him to a diverse range of cultures and experiences. These influences significantly shaped his art, creating a unique blend of his personal experiences and artistic expression Hailing from the province of Quezon, Zalameda went to Manila to study at the University of Santo Tomas. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he ventured into the foreign land of San Francisco to study art in 1953 before leaving for Mexico to practice mural techniques. Later, he also studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts and the Sorbonne in Paris. Oscar Zalameda’s works have been the centerpiece of numerous exhibitions in major museums and galleries and have found their way into many significant private collections across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. His artistic prowess has been acknowledged with numerous awards and recognitions. Notably, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos honored Zalameda with a personal exhibition at the Malacañang Palace in 1966. Zalameda’s artistic journey began with his watercolor paintings, which reflected his life and childhood in his hometown of Lucban, Quezon. However, his travels abroad exposed him to different styles and mediums, leading him to experiment with cubism in vibrant colors, a style that would later become his signature. His cubist abstraction is characterized by the use of gem-toned colors on overlapping and intersecting planes. This untitled painting is a testament to Zalameda’s mastery of any medium and style. At first glance, it appears to be a watercolor painting with almost transparent shapes. However, it is a complex piece made with overlapping planes of oil paint. The artist’s use of curved planes filled with solid and sheer strokes of colors creates a sense of motion and an illusion of the elements being carried by the wind. His palette, a monochromatic brown with a tinge of vibrant red, shadowed with blacks and layered with sheer, light tones, adds depth and brings his elements to life, further enhancing the illusion of the wind. Zalameda’s works offer a unique vision and taste that has earned him dedicated patrons throughout his lifetime and beyond. (Jessica Magno)