Pinoy artist sells five paintings in one hour in Holland

Pinoy artist sells five paintings in one hour in Holland

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

In the art of painting, subjects such as traditional landscapes sell better than others, but Pinoy painter Al Perez proved that there is still a high degree of interest in religious themes when he sold five paintings in just one hour in Holland.

Perez's works, mainly paintings of saints and churches, were showcased as part of the cultural evening organized by the Philippine Embassy on June 6, in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the Philippine Independence Day.

Exhibited in De Duif Church at the famous Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal were different images of the Madonna and Child, different saints like Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sta. Elena, famous churches in the Philippines like the Barasoain Church and the Paoay Church and some portraits and flowers.

Perez' painting of Barasoain ChurchCredit: Loui Galicia/ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Among the paintings sold were two Madonna and Child, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Barasoain Church and a carabao-drawn carriage.

Most of the paintings cost 350 euros (24,000 pesos) each but with the exception of a few more expensive ones like the painting which looked like a canvas of black glossy paint on close-up view but which reveals the face of Jesus Christ when viewed from afar.

Perez has a touch that is definitely his own, noted from his meticulous and realistic rendition of old churches. He has painted every important church in the Philippines and is an acknowledged aquarelle master of baroque churches.

"Ang talagang forte ko eh simbahan. Lahat ng simbahan sa lahat ng Pilipinas nagawa ko na. Kasi ang lola ko, araw-araw nasa simbahan so maliit palang ako favorite ko na ang simbahan lalong lalo na yung Malolos Barasoain Church at Santa Elena Church," Perez told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

(My forte is churches and I have painted almost all the churches in the Philippines. That’s because my grandmother went to mass everyday so even when I was a child, churches were among my favorites, especially the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan and the Sta. Elena Church.)

From his exhibited works, Perez said that his favorite is the painting of Santa Elena.

"Kasi nung maliit ako, nagkasakit ako ng parang convulsion. Nung parang mamatay ako, itong lola ko dinala ako sa altar nitong Santa Elena. Pinangako niya na mabuhay lang ako, maglilingkod ako every fiesta niya. Pupunta ako at dadalin ko ang kanyang statue, dadamitan ko siya. Kaya every May 4, kahit nasaan ako, uuwi ako pag-magfi-fiesta na yan," Perez said.

(When I was small, I got sick with convulsions and everyone though I was dying. Then my grandmother brought me to Sta. Elena and promised that if I survived, I would serve her during her every feast day. So I would go there and bring her image and dress it up every May 4. No matter where I was, I would go home to serve her during her feast day.)

Pinay Hermie Carino was the first to snap a painting because it featured her favorite saint, which is Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"Interesado ako dito. Binili ko siya kasi I was born on the 12th of December and that's the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe," Carino said.

(I am interested in Our Lady of Guadalupe and I was born on December 12 which is her feast day, so I bought it the painting.)

Carino said that the price she paid is out of question because she intends to keep the painting for a very long time.

However, there are some who buy paintings for the short-term pleasure of owning a masterpiece, in exchange for the long-term satisfaction of selling for a profit.

One unidentified foreign art collector bought a Madonna and Child painting via a Pinoy friend as part of his collection with the intention of auctioning it later.

"Binili ito ng mga ka-opisina ko kasi nagustuhan niya at saka nag-cocollect din siya ng mga tribal arts tapos binibenta niya sa Christie's. Noon pa niya sinasabi sa akin na gusto niyang magkaroon ng collection ng mga paintings from Filipino artists so sinasama ko siya sa mga ganito," Arthur Canivel said.

(My officemate bought the painting because he collects tribal arts which are being sold at Christie’s. He has been saying to me he wants to own paintings by Filipino artists so I always bring him along to shows like this.)

Perez is happy with the tremendous appreciation of his craft and has only Ambassador Arguelles to thank for inviting him to showcase his paintings for the first time in The Netherlands.

Perez has already exhibited his works in Germany, France and The Vatican and is particulary inspired by the St. Peter's Cathedral in The Vatican and the Louvre Gallery in Paris.

He feels that having been in Europe has greatly improved his skills.

"Nakita mo kasi yung original ng idol mo. Nadadagdagan yung ganda ng trabaho mo at moral mo lumalakas. Lalo kang ginagahang magpainting. Lalo na yung St. Peter's Cathedral at Louvre Gallery. Punong puno ako, parang gustong-gusto kong magpainting pag nakikita ko mga idol ko," Perez said.

(I have seen the original paintings of my idols and this encourages me to paint even more. I am visually full and I want to paint even more when I see the works of my idols.)

Perez said that in the Philippines, other painters mock him about painting only churches and saints but he said that he's already proven them wrong when he made nude portraits of well-known stars, his favorite of which is Ara Mina.

Seeing the interest of art afficionados in religious subjects specifically the Madonna and Child, Perez said that he is definitely going to push through with his plan to paint celebrity moms and kids in time for Mother's Day next year.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

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