Ongoing until May 26; Alliance Total Gallery at Alliance Française de Manille, 209 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air II, Makati; for more information, call (02) 895-7585, email info@alliance.ph or visit www.alliance.ph
The Alliance Française de Manille and Fundacion Sanso, in cooperation with the Embassy of France to the Philippines, present an exhibition of the works of the renowned visual artist, Juvenal Sanso entitled The Triumph of the Spirit: a healing inspired by the coast of Brittany.
The exhibition is a meditation on several texts chosen in relation to Sanso’s early works, the post-war trauma that is the springboard for his creative process, and the timelessness of the message of hope, particularly in this time where recent attacks to Sanso’s beloved Paris were made. In essence, this exhibit, which celebrates the spirit of the artist, is construed as an act of solidarity to the people of France, and is a celebration of the strength of the human spirit against diversity.
There will be five groups of artworks that will be exhibited, Artworks 1 are all for exhibition purpose only. Artworks 2 are prints from the Black Period, which will be for sale. These will include the Black Series prints reprinted by Fundacion Sanso as special edition prints for the Sanso 70 Years in Art Retrospective, as well as a few acrylics on canvas works sourced by the Fundacion Sanso. Artworks 3 are en plein air paintings of the coasts of Brittany from the Fundacion Sanso Collection. These works are not for sale. Artworks 4 will be Brittany Series paintings supplied by Sanso’s official gallery, Galerie Joaquin, who will partner with Fundacion Sanso for the project. A series of photographs of the coast of Brittany taken by photographer Abby Frias will augment the exhibit to serve as a counterpoint to Sanso’s paintings.
Another component is his transition from his black period to his Brittany series, which is an admiration of the coast of Brittany.
This exhibit is a fitting tribute to the 70 years of diplomatic ties between France and the Philippines.