Renaissance Art Gallery presents “Streamlined II: National Artist Arturo Luz.”
Manila, Philippines–“Streamlined II,” a visual arts exhibition celebrating the works and enduring legacy of the late National Artist Arturo Luz (1926-2021), runs at the Art Center, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, from June 3 to 16, 2025.
The exhibit, curated by Cid Reyes, highlights Luz’s leaning on simple design and disciplined use of color, showcasing his transition from early figurative works to pure abstraction, depiction of varied subjects, and use of unconventional materials, such as burlap, laminated plywood, and broken tiles.
Filipino essayist and poet Recaredo Demetillo explains Luz’s “streamlined approach” was characterized by the visual artist’s “impeccable design and use of color.” He has an educated “sense of space and balance, and understands abstraction and austerity,” Demetillo said.
In other words, he is a real artist.
Influenced by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo’s spare and elongated forms, Luz’s earlier works were figurative, leading to the latter’s original take on shapes using plastic lines.
Luz’s earlier figurative works and still lifes were also influenced by Swiss artist Paul Klee, whose concept of lines is “taking a dot for a walk.”
He gradually transitioned to pure abstraction through collage, from figurative to still life works. A perfectly balanced composition achieves its form, surface, and visual tension by removing representational elements.
In the early ’80s, the artist traveled across Asia, including India, which broadened his choice of subjects, such as imaginary landscapes of temples, palaces, defensive walls, and battlements.
Besides his creative pursuits, Luz also managed the Luz Gallery, the Museum of Philippine Art, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Design Center of the Philippines at some point.
Luz was declared a National Artist in 1997.
Images: Renaissance Art Gallery
