By Joseph Pimentel
AUGUST 1, 2007
Asianjournal.com
Vatican Collection Painting, Pinoy-Made
DANA POINT — With the flick of his wrist, a surreal world.
he creates magic on canvas. His wand, a The “gateless gate” is a common theme
paintbrush. His trick, to mesmerize. borrowed from Dali, said Salvosa. His series of
Wearing an Islamic hat, short but standing abstract paintings challenge the viewer to look
tall, painter Jonahmar Salvosa showcased his at a different realm of the mind. Compared
paintings at the Philippine Cultural Center to his nature works, which are bright and
Foundation’s Ylang Ylang Gala Night in Dana vivid, the Gateless Gate collection is dark and
Point on July 13. morose.
Salvosa revealed he sees things on a blank His travels around the world is another
canvas board that regular people can’t see. common source of his inspiration. To improve
“It’s inside me,” said Salvosa. “Ideas and his craft he studied extensively in Europe,
images just pop up while I’m meditating, Africa, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the
walking or sleeping. I used to have to sleep United States. Unfortunately, among the
with a notebook by me so I can wake up and things he learned from his travels is the lack of
write them all down.” love for art among Filipinos abroad.
A world renowned artist at 54, Salvosa Salvosa said the people who buy his
specializes in murals, paintings and paintings are usually foreigners from Hong
watercolors. He also sculpts and is wont to do Kong, Denmark, London and Australia.
sketches on the spot. “Filipinos here [Fil-Ams] don’t like art,” said
In 2004, he placed third in sculptures in the Salvosa. “They like obvious material things
57th Annual Art Association of the Philippines like diamonds or cars. When I go to a Filipino’s
Annual competition. He was named in the house here [in the US], inside their home I only
Philippines as one of the Top Five Watercolorists see posters or print [hanging on the walls] not
of 2002. real art.”
The painting that defined his career, Despite the apparent lack of appreciation,
however, is that of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. It was Salvosa tries his best to teach his fellow
shown to the Pope in 1978 and is now part of kababayans.
the Vatican’s art collection. This painting also “I start simple with them,” he said.
bagged the grand prize in the first Filipino Reflecting on his career, Salvosa said he has
Saint Competition. gone a long way from the young boy, whose
He also has racked up over 20 local and
nature.
father prevented him from pursuing a career
international art awards.
“Like a lotus [flower],” he said. “How can
in art.
Through past four decades of work, Salvosa
something so beautiful come from muddy
“My dad told me not to be a painter that ...I
never wavered or compromised his art. Early
rivers or ponds? It’s pure and clean surrounded
should [just] become an engineer. But this is
success did not limit him to just one craft or
by all this mud and dirt. The flower itself is not
my dream, my love,” he said.
one style. He continued to learn the different
dirty. It’s very pure.”
There was another kind “magic” he wanted
visual art genres and media.
One of his favorite nature paintings is
performed, a smiling Salvosa told the Asian
“Before I liked Picasso and Dali for their
Gunita Sa Nakaraan (Memory of the Past).
Journal. He wanted a disappearing act of his
experimental styles but then I moved on to
The work shows a dragonfly entering what
works at the Ylang Ylang Gala Night where his
study the works of Michelangelo and Leonardo
he calls a gateless gate. It was inspired by
works were sold as part of the fund-raising
Da Vinci.”
his childhood memories of running around
event.
Salvosa said he prefers painting figures and
chasing dragonflies in his hometown on the
Salvosa is on tour across the US to promote
still life. His paintings are usually of nature
foot of Mount Isidro. Dabbed with lush colors
not just his paintings but also to create a better
related themes. He mixes his love of the
and pastels, it creates an ambiance to the
awareness of the Philippine art among FilAms.
dynamic female figure with the serenity of
viewer as if they can see the dragonfly entering
(AJ)
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