Hailed as the “Master of Movement” by one of the country’s foremost collectors and art visionaries, Dr. Joven Cuanang, Ferdie Montemayor returns to Salcedo Private View in his latest solo exhibit titled Ace, which ends February 7.
We made the “mistake” of dropping by the preview that afternoon—after our game of tennis that morning, with our legs and knees still feeling the strain and aches from all that running. We say “mistake,” because looking and studying Montemayor’s acrylic-on-canvas works were enough to make us feel the game again, like we were back on the court. That is how poweful and dynamic the movements on the canvases are— the strokes, rhythm, and images in blurry motion created by an artist who never played this gladiator’s game, but only watched it in reels or in person.
The spirit and energy of tennis leap off the canvas to stir the viewer’s imagination. In the exhibit that opened Thursday 25 January at NEXTower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Montemayor draws inspiration from the rhythmic, fluid movements of tennis players, creating a vibrant celebration of athleticism and artistry.
“Match Point,” signed and dated ‘24’ (2024, lower right and on verso), acrylic on canvas, 152.4 x 122 cm (60 x 48 in)
“40 Love,” signed and dated ‘24’ (2024, lower left and on verso), acrylic on canvas, 122 x 122 cm (48 x 48 in)
The show was conceived in a conversation between the artist and Salcedo Auctions’ founders Richie and Karen Lerma, who mentioned that one of the artist’s most avid collectors wished to commission the artist to create a large-scale painting that depicted racquet sports.
The Lermas also shared their passion for the sport of tennis with the artist. The two sons of the couple are avid players who join tournaments, one of them playing for his school.
The result is a collection of eight acrylic-on-canvas paintings that are a masterful display of dynamic lines and elongated, flowing brushstrokes, evoking the swift, balletic motions of tennis, and the energy of the game. They are powerful visual narratives.
Ferdie Montemayor with his acrylic-on-canvas paintings depicting tennis movements.
At exhibit preview, Karen Lerma (far right) and son Diego, a varsity tennis player in his school, are in tennis gear, with Salcedo Auctions head Richie Lerma and Thelma Sioson of TheDiarist.ph.
The exhibition runs until 7 February 2024. For inquiries or to receive an exhibition catalogue, please contact info@salceoauctions.com or tel. no. (+63917) 894-6550. To view the Digital catalogue, log in to salcedoauctions.com
