Zóbel was more than just an artist; he was also an avid collector who supported other Filipino artists in every way that he could. It was, most likely, his way of establishing peace with himself and the world around him

and terror involved in the birth of Pegasus, or perhaps bring forth the wonder of watching a bird flap its wings as it takes off to the sky. Counterpoints In his paintings, Zóbel gives the viewers a sense of escaping from the mundane and diving into a world of peace and serenity far removed from any form of chaos.

Perhaps it is because his art was a counterpoint to his own life: he was plagued by ill health for decades and suffered from bouts of depression, particularly during those times when he felt fettered to the corporate world and to conservatism in general; painting gave him the opportunity to escape the pain and the loneliness even for a short while—and to offer others a similar route of release. As he himself said, “The artist communicates from a point of loneliness and his thought is received in loneliness.”

Zóbel was more than just an artist; he was also an avid collector who supported other Filipino artists in every way that he could. It was, most likely, his way of establishing peace with himself and the world around him. With that in mind, given the chaos of the modern world, perhaps Zóbel’s work will help a new generation find a sense of peace, calm, and contentment.

Zóbel: Contrapuntos formally opened on 13 May and will be on display until 26 November 2017 at the Fondaco Marcello, Calle de Traghetto o Ca’ Garzoni, Venice.