March 16, 2010

Last look

The small Ateneo Art Gallery holds the distinction of being the first museum in the country dedicated to Philippine modern art. The gallery was established in 1960 when Fernando Zobel de Ayala (b. 1924, d. 1984) gifted the university with a large collection of works by postwar artists. An even smaller room in the gallery always displays selections from the Zobel bequest. The whimsical artwork on the left is a hand-colored lithograph by Lithuanian-born American artist Ben Shahn (b. 1898, d. 1969) from 1952 titled "Boy Eating Ice Cream."

part of the Zobel collection in the Ateneo Art Gallery


Because the gallery is small, very few pieces from its permanent collection—paintings and sculptures—can be displayed. During the few weeks in a year when the larger room does not have a special exhibit, the gallery staff brings out more pieces from the permanent collection to display. The large yellow abstract painting in the back is by Philippine National Artist for the Visual Arts Jose Joya (b. 1931, d. 1995) from 1958 titled "Granadean Arabesque."

Ateneo Art Gallery


Yesterday, March 15, marked the last day of the gallery in the rooms in these photos. Thanks to the construction of the new Rizal Library, the Ateneo Art Gallery is moving into the spacious first floor of the library's old building. I can't wait to see their new space when the renovations are done and they re-open.

19 comments:

Photo Cache said...

Love visiting galleries and museums - good thing photography is allowed here.

johnny said...

Ha cambiado tu look¡¡¡ Parece muy intelectual. Me gusta el arte y me gustaria tener más tiempo para visitar galerias y observar con detalle tantas cosas interesantes que hay por descubrir en la vida.
Fotos muy nítidas y gran iluminación.
Abrazos

Olivier said...

belle exposition, j'aime bien la peinture sur la premiere photo

Lowell said...

You are fortunate to have such a nice museum to visit. Obviously, they must allow photographs, which makes it even nicer!

Ken Mac said...

love the nose man and the large yellow one. yes!

Louis la Vache said...

Another interesting facet of Manila, found only on MY MANILA!

Thank you, Hilda!

Don and Krise said...

Love the "Boy eating ice cream". So simple, yet fun. I have a feeling we'll be seeing shots of the new gallery once it's opened. Won't we Hilda?? :-)

Verna Luga said...

Ayyy, so sad ADDU doesn't have one... sana meron din ... love also the yellow abstract ... Good Day!

Gunn said...

Thanks for sharing this. Very nice!

Unseen Rajasthan said...

I WOuld love to visit the same place someday !!

brattcat said...

Perhaps this was a small gallery, but what a lovely one.

Irredento Urbanita said...

That place has a warm feeling. Art gives life.

Regards

Valery

Halcyon said...

Cool exposition. I like it when galleries show local artists.

Cezar and Léia said...

Nice gallery. The boy doesn't look all too happy with his ice-cream, what could it be?
God bless you!
Cezar

VP said...

This gallery is simply stunning, even if the works aren't really my favorite kind of art.

George said...

This is a beautiful gallery. I hope the new, larger gallery is as stunning.

escape said...

a competitor will soon rise. wok out! hahaha...

Frank said...

Hilda, I have really missed visiting you and Manila. You're a terific tour guide and wonderful representative for your city and nation.

This gallery is spectacular.

I sure miss blogging from Tampa and especially miss visiting with my blogger friends.

My best to you - Frank

Nishant said...

- good thing photography is allowed here.
work at home in india