Pacita Abad (1946 - 2004)
Tevan Galano (Batanes Series)
signed and dated 1982 (lower right)
oil on canvas
33 1/2" x 33 1/2" (85 cm x 85 cm)

PROPERTY FROM THE JEANNIE JAVELOSA COLLECTION
León Gallery wishes to thank Mr. and Mrs. Jack Garrityfor confirming the authenticity of this lot

EXHIBITED:Cultural Center of the Philippines Small Gallery, Paintings ofPeople and Landscapes of Batanes, Curated by Ray Albano,Manila, February 22 - March 17, 1985
LITERATURE:Fanega, Buddy. "A deeply personal, expressionist style."Gallery Hopping. May 1, 1985. Accessed online athttps://pacitaabad.com/usr/documents/press/download_url/163/gallery-hopping-may-1985-by-buddy-fanega.pdf

The revered Filipino artist Pacita Abad continues to be one of the most accomplished voices for Filipino art in the international scene. During her active years, Abad spent a majority of her time learning and adopting various artistic traditions from all over the world. She then utilized these techniques not only as a way of improving upon her works, but as a medium for creating works that are truly diverse and global. This unique approach earned Pacita acclaim and recognition throughout the world as her practice sought to bring together previously isolated and distant cultures. Despite her international approach to art, Abad never forgot her own Filipino heritage. This particular Untitled piece is emblematic of Abad’s interest in the rich culture of her motherland, specifically of her birthplace of Batanes and of its local peoples the Ivatan. The work itself was part of her seventeenth solo exhibit titled Paintings of People and Landscapes of Batanes which was mounted at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1985. The works, as the title suggests, transport its viewers to the lush isles of Batanes, effectively showcasing the distinct and unique culture of the Philippines’ northernmost region. But aside from acting as idyllic windows into the charm Abad’s hometown, her works also gateways into the characters that populate the islands. In an article about the exhibit, the art critic Buddy Fanega writes “In a deeply Expressionist style, the artist did here straight portraiture, improved at times by a conscious desire to infuse psychological insights. The results bespeak Pacita’s admiration for these appealing and venerable islanders.” (J.D.)