Malang 2002. Bencab 2002. Manansala 1979. Kiukok 1973. Joya 1968. These were the signatures and the dates that were written on the paintings in one of the boardrooms I was sitting in yesterday. I had goosebumps just looking at them.
They call it the Stendhal’s Syndrome. Wikipedia defines it as “a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world.”
In short, the feeling of being overwhelmed after looking at art works. This syndrome will be worst if I get inside an art musem. I have a feeling I would cry if ever I get to see the Spolarium by Juan Luna at the National Musem.
I once dreamed to be an artist. During high school, I love to browse coffee table books on Renaissance Art, Impressionism, and books on renowed Filipino artist. These is were I encountered the names of Vicente Manansala, Ang Kiukok and Jose Joya. In college, I like to cut out newpaper clips from Malang and Bencab. Except for Malang, they are all National Artist.
Yesterday, I saw them all in one room. Imagine that! Original works from National Artists. I was particularly mesmerized by the big abstract painting of Joya. It was dated 1968 and it was right before my eyes. I stood in front of it for about 5 minutes to look at the details. I struggled not to touch it.
It was nice seeing their actual works in one room. It was very inspiring for a frustrated artist like me. What separates them from the rest is their originality. It’s that signature in their works that you can instantly say, Oh that’s a Bencab. Or a Malang. Or a Joya. And I love that feeling of correctly identifying a paiting to its artist.
If you ask Quennie, she will tell you I am original in one thing — unfinished drawings. I start on some lines but end up not completing them.
Oh well. It’s back to the drawing board.
