Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist

ABOUT THE WORK

The works of Lao Lianben draw inspiration from the aesthetics of Zen. In Zen, an ens? is a circle that symbolizes enlightenment and elegance, the universe and the void. The circle is hand-drawn in one or two unrestrained brushstrokes to express “a moment when the mind is free to let the body create.” If the ens? is open, it is incomplete and thus allows for movement and development. If the ens? is closed, it represents perfection, akin to Plato’s ideal form, which is why the circle The evolution of Jose Joya as an artist is evident in his works that exhibit a style that led him to explore indigenous forms and expressions. His oeuvre during this period revealed a multilayered space that utilized vibrant hues and occasional use of neutral tones. As observed in this untitled piece, his abstract paintings and harmonious colors are often inspired by tropical landscapes. In the ‘70s, around the time the lot at hand was created, the fine artist found himself in his experimental phase. He worked in a variety of media and forms, from ceramic designs and figure sketches to oil and acrylic paintings, which comprised the bulk of his major works. His renowned oil painting titled “Warm Afternoon” was made in 1974, the same year this untitled piece is dated. The decade was fruitful in his celebrated career as he also was a dean of his alma mater, the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, from 1970 to 1978. In 1971, he received the Patnubay ng Kalinangan award during the 4th Centennial of the City of Manila. (P.I.R.) was used for centuries in the creation of cosmological models. The ens? is also thought to help with meditation practice, and a person who is mentally and spiritually complete, as Zen Buddhist calligraphists believed, can draw a true ens?. Although the artist himself does not practice Buddhism, Lao admitted in an interview that he is intrigued by it. (P.I.R.)