MANILA, Philippines -- The colorful splatter on the floor, massive stacks of canvases on the tables, and jars of brightly colored paints are the most noticeable elements in the studio of one of the country's master of visual arts, Romulo Olazo.
His strong, geometric shapes, and 'gossamer' like planes against lush greens, blues, purples, oranges and strong powerful reds seem to be conversing with each other across the narrow room, while the artist silently sits at a table, enjoying his merienda.
At 77, the deeply accomplished yet immensely humble Olazo continues to lose himself in his abstracts and excite the art scene as he finally plunges into a playfully vivid palette that defies his more contemplative and mostly monochromatic aesthetic.
Olazo's Diaphanous and Permutation series are among the artist's well known works feted both locally and abroad. This time however, Olazo reinvents himself by tinkering with the former's transparency with the latter's overlapping shapes, incorporating shocking hues into monumental canvases, and then titles his paintings as simply, 'Untitled'.
By naming the paintings as such, Olazo invites the viewer to participate in the interpretation of his gracefully abstracted paintings without spoon feeding them with labels and titles. 'Untitled' is also Olazo's first solo exhibit after his highly-successful 40-year retrospective, establishing the relentless continuum of his prolific creative journey.
Forty years into his career, Olazo modestly admits that he's done and achieved almost everything that he aspired for since leaving the advertising industry to become a full-time artist. His passion for art, however, continues to permeate in his veins, willing him to continue experimenting and discovering new colors, textures and shapes.
"Kailangan laging may bago. As time goes by, I discover something new. For this exhibit, it's color. Nagustuhan ko ang mga kulay," he warmly tells Manila Bulletin. When asked what other tricks he has up his sleeve, he candidly answers, "I don't know. We'll see."
According to Olazo's wife, Pat Olazo, 'Untitled' is a series of paintings Olazo started in 1983. He continued working on it at periodic moments throughout his career, but it's only now that he completed enough paintings for exhibition.
"If you look closely into the paintings, Ola's technique in 'Untitled' takes on combining both transparent and opaque forms. After all these years, no one has ever discovered how he does his colors and transparencies," Pat says.
Indeed, for this exhibit, Olazo's masterful command of creativity produced another series that's energetic in its opalescence, and evokes a beautiful tension in sight of the various paint applications of luminosity.
When asked if she is the only other person who knows how his husband creates his signature transparent layers, Pat answers with a laugh, "I grew up in the province and I'm a business administration graduate, I knew nothing about art when I met him. But I've seen through my husband's artistic career and exposure to his works taught me how to appreciate art."
Olazo, on the other hand, shares that his lovely and very supportive wife remains to be his muse. The couple met and worked together in the same advertising firm -wherein after 14 years of climbing the corporate ladder, Olazo resigned as executive art director to focus on his painting. "Masaya sa advertising pero mas malaya sa painting," he enthuses.
A graduate of Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas, Olazo says he has no particular creative process or rituals before working on a piece. "Basta dumadating lang," he quips. And in spite of having a heart bypass back in 2003 and walking now with the help of a stick, Olazo still manages to exhibit large works and paints in his lofty studio five to seven hours a day.
Known for his adeptness in many of the known artist's techniques and mediums, Olazo was foremost known as a printmaker in 1969; in 1972, he joined the Saturday Group of Artists, at that time steered by National Artist H.R. Ocampo, and then by National Artist Cesar Legaspi; and in 1979, his works gained an honorable mention in the 11th International Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Tokyo.
Rumored to be named National Artist for Visual Arts himself, Olazo let out an astonished gasp followed by an unassuming smile when asked about his thoughts on receiving the prestigious title. As if the thought of being among his peers is an improbability.
When in fact, the Diaphanous series, considered as Olazo's definitive expression, holds a viable position in the line and legacy of modern abstract painting in Philippine Contemporary Art. And his works and exhibits have received several accolades from the global art scene.
Olazo has successfully held 35 individual shows here and abroad and participated in various major international shows, including painting exhibits in Singapore, Guam, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. His paintings are also well represented in internationally-renowned auction houses, like Christie's in Hong Kong.
'Untitled' opened last October 10, 2011 and will run until October 31, 2011. For further inquiries call Paseo Gallery 4th Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City Tel. No. 706-5514, 3rd Floor Art Space, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City Tel. No. 728-0168, Mobile No. 0917-526-8082 / 0922-887-2736 or visit www.paseogallery.net
