Antonio Leaño's Anthropometrics at Sitio Remedios

Antonio Leaño

Anthropometrics

Sitio Remedios, Currimao, Ilocos Norte

Opens December 5, 2009

On December 4, 2009, Sitio Remedios in Barangay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte will be the site for Anthropometrics, Antonio Leaño’s upcoming exhibit. Its environs provide a stimulating backdrop to the artist’s latest oeuvres. Definitely, the synergy of the Leaño’s creatively measured stance coupled with the vintage ambience of this heritage village will walk us back to recollection and usher in a clearer understanding of the present.

Leaño’s mixed media works portray women in their baro’t saya, Jesuit priests and ilustrados in seemingly studio poses. As to be expected, the artist renders these figures comprehensively and pays meticulous attention to the nuances of their form. More interestingly perhaps is the manner in which Leaño juxtaposes other elements in his compositions and how all these components crystallize together to elevate the subject to a different plane.

The subtle metallic shimmer, rich scarlet touches against a furtive and dusky background lures one to unravel the cryptic points that the canvases hold. The architectural details, measurable positions in combination with Leaño’s random thoughts and unyielding resolutions are seamlessly fused together with the focal figure on the canvas. The resulting body of work is yet another testament to his evolving understanding of our existence.

Antonio Leaño’s proficiency for the arts manifested itself early on. His surroundings and associations in Antipolo harnessed his potential. Leaño’s education at the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines further honed his innate abilities. He was also an integral part of Salingpusa, an artist group that created a transformative impact in contemporary art in the 1990s. It is not hard for his reputation to precede himself. With more than two decades of dedicated art practice, Antonio Leaño’s creative outputs are diverse as it is innovative — ranging from representational to non-representational works, environmental to architectural design, experimental to experiential productions. In 1994 he received the Cultural Center of the Philippines 13 Artist Award. He was also the recipient of the Sentenaryong Gawad Dakilang Anak ng Antipolo para sa Malikhaing Sining in 1999 and was a finalist at the International Triennial Competition and Exhibition in Osaka, Japan in 1993.

Anthropometrics opens on the 5th of December 2009 at Sitio Remedios in Barangay Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte. For inquiries, please call at 09178191939 or email us at sitio_remedios@yahoo.com