In the early 1970s, the Cultural Center launched what became the highly prestigious and much coveted Thirteen Artist Awards. Among its early recipients were four outstanding artists that became bywords of the Philippine Modernist movement namely the abstract artists Romulo Olazo and Justin Nuyda, the sculptor Ed Castrillo and the figurative modernist Mario Parial.
Although these four have already passed, their legacy to the Philippine art and culture community has been immeasurable and indisputable.
This August, Galerie Joaquin celebrates the life of the master with the exhibit, “The Unparalleled Mario Parial”. The project becomes even more relevant and timely as this year marks Parial’s 80th birth anniversary had he still been alive today.
After his untimely passing in 2013, it took time to put together an extensive collection of his art for exhibition purposes. The exhibit features a collection of 28 pieces. This covers a good number of Parial’s favorite themes and subjects bursting with colorful flowers, mirthful jesters and harlequins, some floating in an array of fruits or flora, siblings with colorful balloons underscoring Parial’s major theme in his work, namely the fullness and joy of his life as a Filipino.
Parial developed his art with high distinction tackling such diverse themes as Philippine fiestas, rituals, and folklore such as the Moriones Festival, the Nazareno of Quiapo, anting-antings (amulets), masks and jesters, omens of good fortune (a fisher), colorful kites, fruit vendors, harvest scenes, and female vendors
He has won numerous awards for his paintings, including First Prize at the Art Association of the Philippines 1966 Graphic Arts Award, First Prize in Sculpture at the 1966 Shell National Student Art Competition, and The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni award from his alma mater in 2009 and has exhibited extensively in Asia, North America, and Europe.
The Unparalleled Mario Parial runs from August until August 22 at Galerie Joaquin Rockwell.
Galerie Joaquin is located at R3 Level, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City.
