Art Curator Miguel Rosales to Showcase Pieces by F.B. Concepcion at Avellana Art Gallery
Florencio B. Concepcion, often referred to as F.B. Concepcion, left an indelible mark on the world of art. His unique visual vocabulary seamlessly intertwined academic painting with spiritual exploration. “Mixed Media: Florencio B. Concepcion,” curated by Creative Director of Caramel, Miguel Rosales, will be on display at Avellana Art Gallery from July 27 to August 27, 2024. It offers a rare and comprehensive look at selected Concepcion’s works. The exhibition span decades of illustrious career, chronicling his artistic evolution from early impressionistic landscapes to his later, more gestural abstractions.
The Early Years
Concepcion’s journey began in Manila, where he was born in 1933. After receiving his Fine Arts degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1953, he honed his skills as an opera backdrop artist under Ireneo Miranda. During this period, his paintings and prints, characterized by their flatness yet intricate gradations of hue and tone, depicted landscapes, seascapes, and scenes of everyday life.
When in Rome
In 1961, Concepcion’s artistic path took a transformative turn when he went to Rome as an Italian government scholar. At the Accademia di Belle Arti, he earned his MFA and was introduced to the Arte Informale movement. This movement’s emphasis on personal methods and breaking free from traditional abstraction deeply influenced Concepcion’s work. His art from this period evokes transcendence and peace. Heavy strokes of dark colors balanced by lighter palettes form images that both seduce and soothe viewers.
Upon returning to the Philippines, F.B. Concepcion made a bold decision to prioritize artistic integrity over commercial success. Rejecting numerous commissioned opportunities, he focused on painting subjects that inspired him, famously stating, “A painting must move you. If you think while painting, you will produce a synthetic painting.” This philosophy guided his work and his teachings as a faculty member of the Fine Arts department at the University of the East, where he mentored notable artists like Lao Lianben and Romulo Galicano.
Paintings That Move You
The exhibition highlights Concepcion’s mastery of various mediums—oil, watercolor, gouache, and three-dimensional objects—and his profound influence on the Philippine art scene. His mixed media works, described by the late art critic and curator Eric Torres as “cerebral without being overformal, austere without being clinical,” reflect the artist’s deep connection to his canvases as extensions of himself.
“Mixed Media: Florencio B. Concepcion” is more than a retrospective. It is an exploration of the artist’s quest to articulate presence and resolve existential struggles through abstraction. This exhibition showcases Concepcion’s brilliance in merging different forms of expression, embodying the sublime in his art.
This upcoming exhibit celebrates the legacy of Florencio B. Concepcion, an artist who defied conventional boundaries to create a body of work that continues to inspire and move audiences. It is part of a series of projects by Caramel that highlight significant art movements and influential figures in Philippine art. Together, they contribute to the ongoing dialogue and appreciation of the country’s rich artistic heritage.
Immerse yourself in the profound and transcendent world of F.B. Concepcion. The exhibition offers an enlightening glimpse into the mind and heart of one of the Philippines’ most revered artists.
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Photos from the Avellana Art Gallery Mixed Media Catalogue
