‘HISTORIA:’ STORIES OF PHILIPPINE ART
AN extensive exhibit that presents a timeline of Philippine art history— from 19th- century maps and prints, a selection of Juan Luna artworks, to Philippine modern art represented by works of Fernando Amorsolo, Demetrio Diego, and Romeo Tabuena— is on display at Ayala Museum in celebration of BPI Foundation’s 40th anniversary. Titled “Historia: Stories of Art | The BPI Collection,” the exhibit features selections from the Ban k of the Phi lippine Islands’ art collection.
The 55 works of art, which also include works from leading artists who emerged in the later decades of the 20th century, selected by Ayala Museum’s Senior Curator Kenneth share the story of the Filipinos through art: Luna’s travels throughout Europe at the end of the 19th century and hand-colored lithographs and engravings of tipos del pais.
Moreover, Amorsolo’s romanticized images of rural life, as well as the stylized and semi- abstract figurations of traditional icons like mother- andchild, farmers, and cityscapes by contemporary artists also depict Filipino life.
As the first and oldest private bank in the country, BPI has made its mark as a premier financial institution and as a corporate art patron. With its treasure of acquisitions over the years, its art collection has now expanded in parallel to its financial growth. Historia offers a timeline of both Philippine art history and BPI.
“Historia: Stories of Art | The BPI Collection,” will be on view at the Ground Floor gallery of the Ayala Museum until August 12.