During his lifetime, Fernando Zóbel explored the world with curious eyes and a thirst for artistic knowledge. His life revolved around the study of art, and he experimented with a variety of art forms, including abstraction and Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, which became a distinct part of his signature style.
Later, he became known for contributing to the rise of modern art in the Philippines by helping out his fellow Filipino contemporary modernists. He set up his own exhibition at the Philippine Art Gallery and eventually founded the Museo De Arte Abstracto Espanol in Cuenca, Spain, and the Ayala Museum to promote the works of Filipino artists.
On Monday, the Ateneo Art Gallery, helmed by chief curator Boots Herrera, The Zóbel Foundation, and The Art House founder Carlo Pineda, came together to celebrate 100 years of his legacy as a patron of the arts and artist through a Synergy of Ventures: The Post-War Art Scene, an exhibition that highlighted Zóbel’s work alongside several Filipino icons like H.R. Ocampo and others.
One of the many features of this exhibition is travel sketches by the artist, created while he was travelling around the northern region of the country. AAG’s Director and Chief Curator, Ma. Victoria “Boots” Herrera elaborates, “Zóbel left behind many notebooks containing drawings. Most of them are now in Spain, but there is one notebook in the AAG that showcases drawings from his Ilocos travels.”
To mark this special occasion, an intimate guest list of Zóbel heirs, art enthusiasts, fashion pioneers, and journalists spent the afternoon viewing the exhibition while getting a firsthand look at the new collectables created in collaboration with the Art House.
This is a preview of what’s to come,” said Art House Founder Carlo Pineda. Very soon, we will be introducing more products like bucket hats and undated noteooks. Working with a museum, we were very mindful about the caliber of design and workmanship that this collection needed. True to the Art House ethos, we are also focused on bringing the work of Filipino artists like Zóbel closer to audiences and communities.”
“This core collection would later serve as the foundation of Ateneo Art Gallery’s identity and direction,” – Boots Herrera
Several remarkable rare drawings by the artist, philanthropist, and museum founder from his travels around the country’s northern region are amongst the most featured in the exhibition. While some of his most well-known sketches of religious icons, local architecture, and regional traditions were applied onto proudly Filipino-made items like catch trays, Japanese umbrellas, coasters, and placemats.
During the last quarter of 2024, Carlo began to explore how his initiative might be able to collaborate with the country’s first-of-its-kind modern art museum, the Ateneo Art Gallery. The idea, he says, was to use his expertise and extensive experience to make art more accessible to a larger, more diverse audience. “Through gifting, travel, and novelty items, we endeavor to educate a younger audience. This also opens new ways for us to engage with communities.”
“It is important for us to emphasize the importance of drawings and other artistic practices that are often overlooked,” Boots emphasizes, Sketches by Zóbel featured in the Centennial The collection includes: Batac Funeral, Glan Soldier, Cabugao, Paoay Church, Sta. Lucia and Dr. Buenaventura. These sketches reveal another facet of the artist dedicated to furthering academic research on Philippine art and culture.
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