ABOUT THE WORK

A Neo-realist painter and printmaker from the post-war era, Romeo Tabuena created masterpieces that broke barriers and made contributions to the evolution and development of Philippine modern art. Cubism and Chinese vertical format painting are his dominant styles, using acrylic, oils, or watercolors that exhibit the intermingling of two cultures: Filipino and Mexican. His extensive oeuvre depicts themes such as the working class, traditional or countryside living, and indigenous flora and fauna. In 1955, Tabuena settled in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he continued his profession as an artist until his death. His paintings during this period were characterized by a colorful, prismatic style depicting everyday people such as vendors, exemplified in this piece titled Marketplace. His expressionist influences are manifested through the opaqueness and straightforwardness of the figures, combined with their stylized “blocky” quality. He also manages to incorporate a lyrical brushwork influenced by traditional Chinese art. Here, Tabuena demonstrates his proficiency in merging various facets from different cultures, securing his position as one of the leading figures of modernism in the Philippines.