León Gallery wishes to thank Christian M. Aguilar for confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Galleria Duemila, Inc.

ABOUT THE WORK

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz drew inspiration from a plethora of sources, from his early years in the Philippines to his sojourns in Europe, resulting in oeuvres that are universal in nature. At the core of his art are Modernism’s freedom and a freshness of spirit that immediately draws one into his vision of the world. Throughout his career, he shifted between abstraction and figuration, and his figurative works often contained abstract components. The abstractions of Alcuaz are alive with vibrant colors and vigorous strokes. He painted subjects that seemed realistic, but his palette, powerful brushwork, and use of perspective and proportions were artfully orchestrated so that what is presented is not a slice of the reality he saw but how he saw it. As observed in the 1977 oil on canvas piece, his works are always playful but never cluttered. Although his art was influenced by Picasso and Matisse, Alcuaz strove to infuse his worldview and personality into his style. He was an artist who saw art as both a gift and a calling, something worth the hardships as well as the pleasure of creation. A few years before his death, Alcuaz was awarded the title of National Artist in 2009. (P.I.R.)