Curatorial Notes

A reintroduction to one of the most influential figures in the history of Philippine Modern and Contemporary Art, "Rediscovering Rod Paras-Perez" is an exhibition that brings together a comprehensive selection of works from the artist's estate spanning decades of artistic and literary work– many of which will be seen in public for the first time.

Rodolfo Paras-Perez (1934-2011) or Rod. Paras-Perez, as he often used in his writings, was an artist, curator, and art historian who contributed to the inclusion of local contemporary art practices in the global artistic dialogue by introducing artists from the region to the international audience through his writing, curatorial, and artistic work. In his seminal essay, "Southeast Asian Sense and Sensibility: The Well-Filled Space, The Well-Cut Silence," published by Art Asia Pacific in 1994, he writes, "It does not matter whether space is no more than a void to be filled; or silence as something to be broken" and continues, "Perhaps for the Southeast Asian artists - the question is no longer whether they can be as good as anyone else but whether they have anything to say." The statement is a dare to artists to prove that they are not subordinates of the Western masters they seem to follow and imitate. While he was more widely known as a scholar and critic, Paras-Perez's recognition as an artist remains under the shadow of his contemporaries. Hence, the exhibition is an opportunity to reassess his legacy and studio practice in producing works deemed radical and ahead of his time. The first section is dedicated to personal memorabilia, significant publications, and an expansive body of works in different formats, such as painting, print, collage, sculpture, and new media, including Paras-Perez's film "Conversation in Space," which the National Gallery of Singapore commissioned for a digital restoration in 2022 and entered its collection that same year as its earliest moving image work.

The second section of the exhibition, titled "The Art of The Erotic," is dedicated to paintings and prints mainly produced from the 1960s to the 1970s, where images depicting the beauty and sensuality of the female form and renderings of the human figure in intimate sexual dispositions are dominant. Paras-Perez's formalist approach to composition is evident in the prominent use of negative and positive space to define shape and form, particularly in presenting the female body. Isolating figures by refusing to fill their contours with color or somehow making them the most visible element in the pictorial creates an illusion that the figures are illuminated and positioned with grace. As art critic Paul Zafaralla described Paras-Perez’s unconventional use of light as "a device to highlight the organic power of form to create tension and suspense where natural light fails to do so."

Paras-Perez received his BFA from the University of the Philippines (cum laude) in 1957 and his MFA from the University of Minnesota in 1961. He was the first Filipino to receive a Ph.D. in Art History from Harvard University. His works are in several institutional collections, such as the National Gallery of Singapore, the Harvard Museum, and the Uffizi Gallery. Paras-Perez's life and work were the subject of exhibitions at the Lopez Museum and Ateneo Art Gallery, both held in 2014.

"Rediscovering Rod. Paras-Perez" is curated by Gwen Bautista and Miguel Rosales

About the Artist

This special exhibit aims to invite the viewers to rediscover the works of multi-hyphenate Rod. Paras-Perez (1934-2011), who was not just a celebrated author, art critic, and art historian, but also an artist himself. Largely known for his printmaking, which will be represented in this showing, the first part of this exhibit offers a glimpse into other mediums the artist used, ranging from ceramics, to traditional painting. Vignettes will collage works with personal items that will give insights into the artists methods and materials, and present a brief visual timeline into his life and work.

The second part of the exhibit offers a peek into the more erotica themed works by Rod. Paras-Perez. A grouping of these works, some never before exhibited, explore the artists interest in the female form, some combining his interest in mystic symbols mixed with his iconic colors and printmaking techniques.

A very early exploration into a film by the artist will be shown in the booth along with a short film about him produced for release at the Art Fair Philippines 2024.