Photos by Lorna Llanes
What is the truth? That underlying question will continue to revisit our consciousness whenever we seek it. As to how our history was foretold and written, I would like to believe that we have long sought to define and understand it. Truth compels us to inquire and challenge the norm.
However, this Sunday’s column is not a commentary on the current political situation in our beloved country. Although its outcome will definitely set the course of Philippine history, I just pray for the enlightenment of our leaders to seek their own truth and find it in their hearts to serve our country genuinely so it can finally move towards progress.
The truth of the matter is that our pursuit for what is real inspires us in many ways, including the way we express the truth through art.
Just recently, I was invited to a private and exclusive art exhibit entitled “Impressionart: The Symphony of Slavic Art” at A Space in Legaspi Street, Makati City.
Its organizer, a lovely expatriate named Victoria Toregun, not only displayed beautiful paintings but also presented it in a fashion that celebrates the soul of her country, the Ukraine, through music, great food and an enigmatic lyrical ballet choreographed by Laurene Knowles.
She introduced the works of three artists, namely Artem Tolstukhin, Roman Agasyan and Polina Kuznetsova, who all hail from the stronghold of classical painting: the Ukraine and Russia. Their artworks debuts for the first time in the Philippines.
“I would like to introduce the enlightened Filipino and Southeast Asian collector to the world-class arena of artists from whom they may have been previously unaware, and to broaden their collecting horizons to a wide array of still affordable, classical European paintings,” expressed Victoria to this columnist.
She added, “The Symphony of Slavic Art represents well-known artists from the Ukraine whose recent sales include leading international galleries such as the Saatchi Gallery in New York and auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, as well as a host of private collectors in Europe, middle Asia and China.”
As I was appreciating the beautifully curated artworks of the artists, I noticed the common expression of emotions and dreams – paintings that evoke romantic and poetic landscapes such as Turgenev’s and Tolstoy’s.
Victoria Toregun explained, “Impressionist and romantic, these paintings fulfill the critical gaps for the Asian collector: Pieces that are artistically pure, devoid of the commercial modernism of the auction house or the temporal showroom.”
Suffice it to say, these paintings are destined to endure time. According to the organizers, Impressionist paintings and romantic landscapes are not just 19th century period museum pieces. And while the modern art world will continue to edit out new forms, to the collector, classical European paintings shall always beckon.
“The classical art is eternal. It has no timeframe and trends (un)like contemporary art. It is part of our history, a part of our present and future. Impressionism will never be out of fashion,” she further affirmed.
Many of us adore the paintings of famous Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne among notable others. However, it would entail travelling around the world and visiting famous museums just to have a glimpse into the history of their art. Through this exhibit, the Filipino collector has a chance to acquire academically perfect European paintings done in the traditional classical style at affordable prices.
During the exhibit, once such painting (as seen in this Sunday’s story) by Polina Kuznetsova intrigued this columnist. According to the artist, the “Girl by the Window” is very symbolic. In her biography, she explained, “The image came up to me right at the beginning of dramatic political changes in Ukraine a couple (of) years ago. In her eyes, both romantic and pleading, and in a state of near undress, she releases all her passions – good or bad – and the passions of humanity.”
While Polina was creating her artwork, the war in Ukraine has already started. She added, “For me that is art: An allegory about life, about the emotions we feel and the passions we can control and sometimes, cannot.”
The new owner who acquired the masterpiece that evening will rest knowing that she bought a painting of great value. Its truth was definitely worth the investment.
That night, I learned that purity is at the core of Impressionist art. This columnist also discovered the truth about Slavic Art – and that it is quite simply a symphony that is as artistically pure as it should be.
That is the truth.
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