Birth Anniversary of National Artist Jose Tanig Joya
June 3, 1931-May 11, 1995

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines

Can you explain what you see and feel upon seeing this work? Do you see thick textures of paint and quick brushstrokes? Today, #NationalMuseumPH celebrates the 91st birth anniversary of National Artist (NA) for Visual Arts and pioneering abstract expressionist Jose Tanig Joya by featuring his 1964 oil painting on wood, “Scented Sheath” from the National Fine Arts Collection (NFAC).

Abstraction or abstract art, is a general term for a work of art that is non-representational. On the other hand, Abstract expressionism is also characterized by the non-representational depiction of objects but in gestural (fast, vigorous) brushstrokes and impasto (thick application of paint) as seen in this featured artwork. NA Joya’s impastos are concentrated in the upper-middle to the middle part of this artwork. The canvas is full of gestural brushstrokes in earth tones. The artist’s signature is found on the bottom right part of the artwork.

This significant work of NA Jose Joya was registered as public property in 1964, the same year it was completed. Exhibited at the Pillars of Philippine Modernism Gallery (Gallery XVIII), “Scented Sheath” portrays the excellence and mastery of the artist in the field of abstract expressionism. The year 1964 is a momentous time in the life of the artist. Joya received an invitation from the British Government to be their Guest Artist. Furthermore, it was also in 1964 when NA Joya represented the Philippines for the first time in the prestigious 32nd Venice Biennale in Italy, together with Napoleon V. Abueva (1930-2018), another sculptor in the modernist idiom, who later on was declared a National Artist. His painting, “Hills of Nikko” and part of the NFAC: https://bit.ly/3NLUkWC as part of the Philippines’ entry to the Biennale.

Visit the Pillars of Philippine Modernism Gallery and check out other abstract expressionist works of NA Joya. Come and visit us until June 5 before we temporarily close our doors to the public!

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