Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mr. Alexander Richard Joya Baldovino confirming the authenticity of this lot.

Provenance: The Luz Gallery

Exhibited: The Luz Gallery, Jose Joya: Ninth One-Man Show, Manila, 3 - 14 December 1960

Literature: “Joya Show.” The Manila Chronicle. December 3, 1960. Black-and-white illustration.

ABOUT THE WORK

Jose Joya’s Composition X was among the seventy works (including paintings, oil studies, and compositions) included in the artist’s ninth one-man exhibition at the Luz Gallery in December 1960, which also happened to be the inaugural show of Arturo Luz’s famed brainchild. In his “Roses and Thorns” column (December 8, 1960) for Times, writer, critic, and would-be National Artist for Literature Alejandro Roces lauds Joya’s works in the said exhibition as “show[ing] a constantly improving Joya.” Roces continues his acclaim, “His colors are poetic and sweeping. At times, one can sense landscapes and cool waters in his abstract daubs. His sketches have something of the seascape sketches of Hidalgo.” On the other hand, an article from the Manila Chronicle dated December 3, 1960 writes, “The exhibit promises to be Joya’s biggest and most exciting.” “Limited in color range to greys and a warm scale from yellows to reds, the paintings vary considerably in size, from small oil studies to huge wall-size paintings.” Composition X epitomizes Joya’s abstract expressionist flair and creative venture, which would climax in his historic participation at the 1964 Venice Biennale. The work sees Joya dabbling in both spirituality and materiality as he kinetically captures the abstract endeavors of his spontaneous mind and dynamic brush. Earlier in 1960, Joya bagged the third prize at the 13th Art Association of the Philippines Annual Art Competition and Exhibition for his work, House of Life. It was Joya’s third successive win at the AAP after winning second prize at the 1959 Annual for his beloved Space Transfiguration and first prize at the 1958 Annual for Painting. (Adrian Maranan)