Photos courtesy of Art House
“I think true artists like him would continue working, because he said he will not be happy if he is not working,” recalled Nena Saguil when she was asked about her encounter with Henri Matisse in November 1954.
Matisse, the influential artist of the 20th century who shocked the art world with his radical bold colors and non-naturalistic art style, was already bedridden when Saguil (then an art scholar) and other student artists visited him with their teacher, Professor Henri Goetz, in his Paris home. The master artist, she said, was making collages at the time, and his nurse would hand him scissors and the papers he wanted.
Saguil was being interviewed by art critic Cid Reyes in 1975 in Paris. Recorded on cassette tape, the priceless documentation has been presented as Cid Reyes: The Lost Conversations by the Museum Foundation and digitized by ArticulatePH on YouTube in 2024.
The heralded Filipina modernist and abstractionist—who became blind in her twilight years—would remain a working artist till her last breath in Paris in 1994.
Her strength and perseverance as an artist, immigrant, and woman already shone at a time when an Asian female abstractionist such as her was surviving in the world’s art capital.
Her creative passion and mental stamina were palpable in her art process and output. To the naked eye, her meticulously rendered circular and organic landscapes presented our infinitesimal existence in this universe, and on a deeper level, the essence of spirituality. Cosmic, esoteric, other worldly, and sublime. These are the words often used to describe Saguil’s pieces.
Now, her paintings are enjoying a new era of being seen by the next generation of art lovers through retrospectives in outlets such as at the Art Fair Philippines this month, a milestone show featuring Saguil with Anita Magsaysay-Ho at the Metropolitan Museum last year, and her leading presence in major art auction houses in the country.
In 2006, President Arroyo posthumously awarded Saguil a Presidential Medal of Merit. For the longest time, however, there has been a public clamor to nominate Nena Saguil for National Artist award. Should this come true, she would be the first woman to be bestowed the distinction in the Visual Arts category.
Art House founder and CEO Carlo Pineda
Art House founder and CEO Carlo Pineda recognizes the gravitas of Saguil’s contribution to Philippine art history. His vision as an art advocate is to foster cultural exchange and community engagement, and his latest event, Lakbay: Voyages into the Absolute with Nena Saguil, is a testament to this. The show, mounted in line with National Arts Month, opened February 9 and runs until February 12 at Discovery Primea, Makati City.
Lakbay presents select works of the late Saguil and nine other internationally-based Filipino visual artists Pineda said, “We literally made a cold call and introduced ourselves, our vision as a platform, and the visual narrative we wanted to put together.”
Accompanying Saguil’s pioneering cosmic abstractions are works by Jana Benitez, Rose Cameron, Kim Cruz, Lizza May David, John Wayne Forte, Marissa Gonzalez, Racso Jugarap, Kulay Labitigan, and Jaclyn Reyes.
The nine artists flew in from the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium, and will give talks during the run of the show.
Lakbay unveils rarely seen works of Saguil. “I’m an avid collector of Nena Saguil’s artworks. For National Arts Month, we wanted a different proposition—something new and fresh. We were keen on bringing to the audience stories and experiences not usually found in the local art market,” Pineda explained.
“It creates a common ground for audiences and artists who share the experience of being home away from home.”
Nena Saguil, untitled, 1981
Beyond the gallery experience, Pineda believes in making art more accessible by exploring venues that aim to bridge artists with their viewers: “Our activities, whether through public art, explorations in materiality and sustainable art, or reflections on digital art like NFTs, are always about creating collective journeys and conversations.
“While others might want to gatekeep the artists from collectors, we like to build spaces where both can connect, interact, and be part of one open, inclusive ecosystem or community. We like to think that our work, as a platform, helps to revitalize the patron-artist relationship.”
Art House was conceived by Pineda as a venue where he could apply his background in travel retail to create gifting retail that showcase Philippine art. But the concept was later tweaked, which allowed Pineda to venture into shows and exhibitions that would engage with local communities.
“Our first few shows were held at Rockwell and Ayala,” Pineda recalled. “But programs launched in the past few years were designed to push the needle in terms of scale, presentation, medium, and materiality. The platform has mounted shows that explore sustainable alternatives to creating art — either through the use of recycled materials or exploring digital expressions.”
In 2023, Pineda sought his vision further by producing Leeroy New’s Elemento. The massive piece made from recycled plastic materials was lit up by an organization called Liter of Light, which provided solar lighting for communities with little or no access to electricity. It was first mounted at the Ayala Triangle and traveled to various neighborhoods like Circuit and Nuvali.
Art House believes in the power of collaborations and has maintained various activations, exhibitions and interactive programs involving collective initiatives to promote Philippine art further among Filipinos and on the global front..
“The journey doesn’t end when the show closes. It’s also not limited to visual arts. If anything, it is only a prelude to meaningful conversations surrounding Philippine culture, adding historical value and context to programs created by Art House,” Pineda pointed out. “We are an artist’s platform, focused on talent and highlighting what they have to say.”
Lakbay: Voyages into the Absolute with Nena Saguil runs from February 9 to 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., at Discovery Primea, 6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati.Visit www.arthouseph.com. For updates, follow on Instagram @thearthouse_
The cosmic and what lies beyond—these were often the themes Filipina abstract artist Nena Saguil explored during her lifetime. While she spent much of her later years in Paris, her art remained deeply rooted in a sense of longing and introspection—a quiet dialogue with the homeland she had left behind.
