Untitled (The Happening)
ca. 1990
oil pastel on felt paper
28" x 22" (71 cm x 56 cm)
Accompanied by a certificate issued by Ms. Gisella Olmedo-Aranetaconfirming the authenticity of this lot



Faces with piercing gazes that appear anxious and afflicted abound the oeuvres of Onib Olmedo, an artist who was ahead of his time with his unique figurative expressionist approach. His pieces evoke emotions, complexities, and the states of mind of the human condition through distortion and exaggeration of features. A keen observer of people and a habitué of the bars and cafés along Mabini, Olmedo had much to say in his paintings about Manila, its people, and its changing social climate. Thus. his interest in his subjects goes far more profound than the superficial appearance of their facial characteristics. He is heralded by many for his own genius style and rendered subjects often drawn from his immediate surroundings. The popularity of Olmedo continues to grow through the years — his aesthetics serve as an influence on other Filipino artists, and his artistic legacy lives on among art enthusiasts and collectors. (P.I.R.)