Iya Lorainne Baring

Arturo Luz Returns To The Spotlight With "Streamlined II" At The SM Megamall

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17491329333181. LUZ COVER TOOTS copy.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>A rare and meaningful tribute to one of the country’s most revered artistic icons,<strong> <em>Streamlined II: The National Artist Arturo Luz Exhibition</em></strong> runs until June 16 at the<strong> </strong>Art Center in SM Megamall. <strong></strong></div><p>Presented by <strong>Renaissance Art Gallery</strong> and curated by artist-critic <strong>Cid Reyes</strong>, the second iteration of <em>Streamlined</em> revisits and reaffirms Arturo Luz’s rich and enduring legacy, highlighting his unwavering commitment to impeccable design and disciplined use of color.</p><p>“I must draw attention to the work of Arturo Rogerio Luz,&quot; shared distinguished art and literary critic Recaredo Demetillo in 1951. &quot;His forms are alive and distinguished; he understands abstraction and austerity, the sense of space and balance. He distorts with intuitive rightness and grace. In other words, he is a real artist.”</p><div><strong>Exploring form&#x27;s simplicity</strong></div><p>At just 17 years old, Luz, declared National Artist in 1997, was already exploring painting and was drawn to form&#x27;s simplicity and essential nature. </p><p>His first work was a portrait of his mother, the renowned interior designer Rosario Dimayuga Luz.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749299578772Women-Acrylic on Canvas-96x48-2002.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Women&quot; (2002) Acrylic on Canvas - 96x48 </span></span></span>As a figurative painter, Luz was inspired by Mexican artist <strong>Rufino Tamayo</strong>, known for his spare and elongated forms.</div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749300115073Forms of Amusement-Acrylic on Canvas-48x96-1994.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Forms of Amusement&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (1994) - 48x96</span></span></span>This influence led Luz to develop his vocabulary of shapes using plastic lines. He also drew significant inspiration from Swiss artist <strong>Paul Klee</strong>, who famously described line as “taking a dot for a walk.” This inspiration culminated in Luz&#x27;s linear depictions of cyclists, musicians, and carnival performers, including acrobats and jugglers, as well as still lifes featuring boxes, Oriental ceramics, jars, bowls, and shells.</div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749299730674Performers-Acrylic on Canvas-1991-48x96.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Performers&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (1991) - 48x96</span></span></span></div><p>By limiting his choice of subjects, Luz could delve into the elegance of visual simplicity, precision, and spatial balance. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749299817113Performers-Acrylic on Canvas-48x96-1991.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Performers&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (1991) - 48x96</span></span></span></div><p>He began to favor non-traditional materials such as burlap and laminated plywood, and at one point even used broken tiles to create a mosaic for a church altar floor.</p><p>Eventually, Luz transitioned to pure abstraction through collage, which compelled him to create compositions without representational subjects. This allowed him to focus on the planar qualities of form and surface, as well as the visual tension that arises from achieving a perfectly balanced composition.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749299918932Borobudur-Acrylic on Canvas-48x96-1991.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Borobudur&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (1991) - 48x96</span></span></span></div><p>In the early 1980s, Luz expanded his subject by traveling throughout Asia and India. </p><p>His experiences during this pilgrimage inspired many works that featured imaginary landscapes filled with temples, palaces, fortifications, and battlements—all transformed into linear symphonies of monochromatic tones accented by earthy colors like chrome yellow, dark mustard, cardinal red, burnt sienna, bronze, and brown. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749299987931Desert Architecture Rajasthan-Acrylic on Canvas-96x48-1992.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Desert Architecture Rajasthan&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (1992) - 96x48</span></span></span></div><p>Arturo Luz also demonstrated his administrative skills in the 1980s by managing his eponymous <strong>Luz Gallery</strong>, the <strong>Museum of Philippine Art</strong>, the <strong>Metropolitan Museum</strong>, and the <strong>Design Center of the Philippines</strong>. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749300047773Palitana-White Temples -Acrylic on Canvas-48x60-2003.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Palitana White Temples&quot; Acrylic on Canvas (2003) - 48x60</span></span></span>Of paramount significance is Luz&#x27;s transformation of the native artistic sensibility from festive and flamboyant to restrained and dispassionate.</div><div><br/></div><div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><p>A special limited-edition monograph, designed by <strong>Dopy Doplon</strong> with photography by <strong>Wig Tysmans</strong>, accompanies the exhibit.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>The Art Center is located at 4/F SM Megamall Building A, Mandaluyong City</em></div>

<p>A rare and meaningful tribute to one of the country’s most revered artistic icons, Streamlined II: The National Artist Arturo Luz Exhibition runs until June 16</p>

A rare and meaningful tribute to one of the country’s most revered artistic icons, Streamlined II: The National Artist Arturo Luz Exhibition runs until June 16

A Master Revisited in Streamlined II: Arturo Luz Exhibition

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A Master Revisited in Streamlined II: Arturo Luz Exhibition

Iya Lorainne Baring

Published June 08, 2025 12:00 AM PHT

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