Lot description
PROPERTY FROM THE DON J. ANTONIO ARANETA COLLECTION Talim Island II signed and dated 1966 (verso) oil on wood 32" x 24" (81 cm x 61 cm) LITERATURE Araneta, Antonio S, ed. 1030 R. Hidalgo (Volume 2: Legacy in Art). Manila: MARA, Inc., 1986. Full-color photograph and painting description on page 168. Years after he was conferred with the prestigious title of National Artist for Visual Arts in Paintings, the works of Jose Joya remain refreshingly original and unique; proof that the prolific painter was decades ahead of his time. Critics, academics, and curators alike have often claimed that Joya spearheaded the birth, interest, and development of abstract expressionism in the Philippines. Joya’s iconic style also proved to be adaptable, with the artist employing his for a variety of subjects and themes. Talim Island, with an area of approximately 60 square kilometers, is situated in the heart of Laguna de Bay, which spans the provinces of Rizal and Laguna. The island is accessible via boat or ferry from various points around the lake, providing those who journey to the island with an experience far from the usual landscape of Rizal province. Such a novel experience is probably what pushed Joya to depict the island through his signature Abstract Expressionist style. Here, the lush greens, browns, and ochres often attributed to the flora and fauna of Rizal give way to the serene and azure waters of Laguna de Bay. Meanwhile, the solid blues of the piece seemingly coalesce with other shapes and forms at the right-hand part of the frame, depicting how the lake’s tides crash with the island's rocky and uneven shores. Ultimately, the allure of Joya’s take on not only Talim Island, but of his other geographically inspired pieces is that he is not concerned with the accuracy of his depictions, but rather in capturing the essence and soul of the space itself. (J.D.)
