The Philippine Embassy in London will present an art exhibition by Filipino-Spanish artist Maria Mari Murga from 7 to 21 November 2014.
Titled Allegory of a Philippine Gaze, the art exhibition celebrates a fascinating insight of the Philippine culture across utopian fantasies of idyllic exoticism. Its concept is an allusion to Dr. José P. Rizal’s last manuscript “The Lord Gazes at the Philippine Islands”.
Murga explores a controversial approach in capturing the beauty and power alongside a multicultural idealised world of symbolism: pastoral scenes in Mindanao where beautiful Muslim women harvest fertile landscapes wearing Yakan fabrics and a Zamboangueña covering her shoulders with a Catholic mantilla cloth.
Maria's refined richness of colours reflects her fascination with the vibrant tropical sunlight creating a unique vision of the overwhelming power of nature. This is manifested in her paintings “Iloilo Paraw Festival” and “Sunset behind boats in Davao”.
The virtuoso Still Life compositions represent a classical notion of idealism, in which artistic truth is found through harmony, balance and beauty. The artist palette is filled with vibrant intense colours where red, like crystallised burning magma, reinterprets the naturalism of Amorsolo in a new genre of composition.
Further highlights include Murga’s award-winning shoe sculpture “Men at your Feet”. The sculpture will be displayed alongside her amazingly tangible drawings, as if they had been drawn with the most delicate and precise of instruments.
These sensual and ephemeral allegories represent an outstanding collection of masterpieces reflecting a new, uninhibited and innovative view of Pinoy culture; just as the 7107 islands unify the multicultural Philippine Archipelago.
Curator: Mr. Leif Miguel Martinez RIBA
Maria and her charity work
Maria's artwork aims to raise funds to help the Holy Rosary Family Center renovate schools, educate indigent children and treat people stricken with leprosy in six barangays in Zamboanga City, Philippines.
Special events
There will be two Artist Private Tours where guests can interact with the artist and her team:
* Thursday, 13 November, 18:00 - 20:00
* Thursday, 20 November, 18:00 - 20:00
Due to a limited number of places, interested participants are requested to email Ms Maria Mari Murga (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to confirm their attendance.
For more information on the event, contact Ms Maria Mari Murga on 0743 8379 314. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Wesbite www.mariamari.es