Editor's Picks: The 15 Pieces We Love From Salcedo Auctions' Finer Pursuits

Back with another fine collection, Salcedo Auctions' Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles presents us with a plethora of modernist masters, eclectic delights, and contemporary giants, among other beautiful pieces. This year's sale gives us a lot to nibble on, from rare pieces by Anita Magsaysay-Ho and Lee Aguinaldo to some curious paintings by names like Rodel Tapaya, Johanna Helmuth, Alfonso Ossorio, and more. The texture all around, just amazing.

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1| Lot 28: "Ten Heads" by Rodel Tapaya, 2017

Estimate: P2,800,000 to P3,000,000

The cascading primordial forests of Rodel Tapaya are filled with allegory and indigenous reflection. In "Ten Heads," we see titans and other characters reference folk elements, myths, and contemporary reckonings of our pre-colonial memories—with myriad shades of whimsy.

2| Lot 40: "Painting in Green No. 2" by Lee Aguinaldo, 1963

Estimate: P3,500,000 to P4,500,000

Meditations on Rothko may be a good descriptor for this version of Lee Aguinaldo's brand of abstraction. A masterclass in sensory exploration, "Painting in Green No. 2" is a direct affront to traditional artmaking at the time of its conception, becoming a landmark piece in the master's portfolio. Interestingly, its provenance tells quite the tale:

"In 1963, Ron Taft of Perth visited his friend Ken Rabin in Manila, where he was introduced to Lee Aguinaldo. During an evening of San Miguel beer and jazz, Aguinaldo invited Ron to view his artworks. Ron was immediately drawn to the abstract Painting in Green No. 2, because of how the paint was laid on so heavily in such a short period of time, and arranged its shipment to Perth through the artist’s family shipping company.

"Unbeknownst to Taft at the time, Aguinaldo had studied in New York and was influenced by Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Acquiring the painting at a bargain price, Taft later realized its value, aided by the hospitality brought by San Miguel beer and Ken Rabin, coincidentally Rothko's nephew."

3| Lot 135: "Untitled (Hazing) by Johanna Helmuth, 2019

Estimate: P850,000 to P900,000

There's something about Johanna Helmuth’s art that reflects otherwise-secretive contentious atmospheres. Coded within her fusty spaces are traces of malaise, repression, violence, betrayal, and sexual frustration. In this piece, hazing is a mere vehicle for the anticipation of pain that colors the room. The subdued tones contend with this Helmuthian tension, highlighting the relationship between the tormented and the tormentor.

4| Lot 137: "Matriarch" by Ian Quirante, 2016

Estimate: P50,000 to P60,000

Long has Ian Quirante has been following the surrealist tradition. "Matriarch," of course, comes from the psychic automatism that defines his imagery. The anthropomorphic figure expands and dissipates in every direction, weaving together deranged anatomical cues and barren landscapes.

5| Lot 3: "Untitled" by Emmanuel Garibay, 2005

Estimate: P220,000 to P260,000

Of all the Garibays set for this auction, I have a special inclination toward this one. Perhaps because I think of it as quite the portrait of domesticity. A chief critic of ideology and religion, Garibay has always had a way of expressing closely held grudges within the social, political, and personal realms. In this case, he offers freedom to this tight space, exemplified by the rawness of the figures and contorted forms. The cat is pretty nice, too.

6| Lot 163: "Untitled (Portrait of a Lady)" by Justin Nuyda, 1981

Estimate: P240,000 to P280,000

When we think of Justin Nuyda, we think of the abstractions and his Mindscape series. It's always fascinating to see a different modality to his expression. The same shades of serenity and delicateness in shapes that we love him for are applied seamlessly in the figure in this portrait.

7| Lot 78: "Untitled (Man and Woman with Carabao)" by Alfredo Liongoren, 1964

Estimate: P200,000 to P240,000

Who doesn't love Alfredo Liongoren? Here, the master's repertory of images pays homage to primitivism and folk art with old Filipiniana icons. It's a muted celebration of nature, community, and, err, the relationship between man and his trusted carabao.

8| Lot 113: "Untitled" by Orley Ypon

Estimate: P950,0000 to P1,000,000

Classic Orley Ypon. Found here is a great example of contemporary hyperrealism. The anatomy of the figures dictates the rhythm of this beautifully dramatized scene. Pure theater.

9| Lot 35: "Fat & Thin" by Alfonso Ossorio, 1962

Estimate: P5,500,000 to P6,500,000

A painting indicative of Ossorio's shift toward the Art Brut movement, this symphony of textures, colors, and forms tells a vivid story of found objects. Seen here is harmony at the expense of wild, somewhat ironic fragmentation, revealing layers upon layers of the nascent styling he'd later be known for.

10| Lot 50: "Blues with the Sense of Metaphor" by Jigger Cruz, 2014

Estimate: P4,500,000 to P4,800,000

No matter which side of the fence you stand on Jigger Cruz's art, you cannot deny the brilliance of his interpretation of color. By employing techniques such as impasto, cutting, and spraying paint, he always manages to create multi-dimensional layers of pigments that capture the social, historical, and political in contemporary Philippines. The sensorial dynamism of this piece just defies conventional notions.

11| Lot 38: "Cactus and Yellow Window" by Ang Kiukok, 2001

Estimate: P8,000,000 to P8,500,000

I love the vivid dreamlike quality of "Cactus and Yellow Window." It's just one hell of a composition. This piece makes both the viewer and the artist complete voyeurs to one of the great visionaries in Filipino modern art.

12| Lot 72: "Untitled" by Arturo Luz

Estimate: P750,000 to P800,0000

The simplification of linear and geometric expressions is, of course, an Arturo Luz signature. Without exhausting too many superlatives here, the way Luz articulates the language of modernism throughout this sculpture reminds us yet again why he had been such a force—and why he's sorely missed.

13| Lot 74: "Untitled (Black Gates)" by Gabriel Barredo

Estimate: P150,000 to P200,000

Admittedly, I couldn't stop staring at this Gabriel Barredo piece (perhaps because I had earlier that day been conversing with a friend about the anti-poetry of Rodin's "The Gates of Hell"). The Iron Gate sculpture features an assemblage of Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco design elements that speak of myths and legends that I find quite rewarding. Simply, the ornamentation is awe-inspiring.

14| Lot 39: "Portrait of a Young Woman" by Anita Magsaysay-Ho, 1953

Estimate: Upon Request

This rare painting by Anita Magsaysay-Ho is undoubtedly the star of the sale. It's painted with egg tempera, considered by many as one of the harder mediums to work with. I can't describe this piece any better than Alfredo Roces in Anita Magsaysay-Ho: In Praise of Women:

"This enchanting egg tempera painting by one of Asia's most revered female artists not only portrays a beautiful young woman but also encapsulates a subtle narrative of grace and modernity. Anita Magsaysay-Ho's deft hand delicately renders the subject, capturing her essence with a blend of strength and vulnerability that resonates deeply with viewers."

15| Lot 85: "Untitled" by Romulo Olazo, 1983

Estimate: P2,400,000 to P2,600,000

The master abstractionist's trademark "translucent" Diaphanous abstract style always offers a visual spectacle. This is no different.

Presented with exclusive bank partner Metrobank, The Finer Pursuits live and online auction will occur on Saturday, 15 June 2024, starting at 2:00 p.m. You may view the online catalogue at salcedoauctions.com. The in-person preview runs until Friday, 14 June at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (including Sunday, closed Monday).