On October 29, 2014, I visited Ateneo Art Gallery in its relatively new home, the second level of Rizal Library Special Collections Building inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus. I say relatively new because it used to be on the ground floor of Rizal Library, beside the lib steps where college students congregate to gossip or watch their crush walk by.
According to its website, Ateneo Art Gallery is widely recognized as the first museum of Philippine modern art. It was established in 1960 through the generosity of Don Fernando Zóbel. Aside from his own works, Mr. Zóbel also donated several art pieces by important Filipino post war artists. In addition to its permanent collection, the gallery also hosts exhibits that last for six months at a time. That rainy afternoon, part of the gallery was closed due to the installation of a new exhibit.
Fernando Amorsolo’s Portrait of Fernando Zóbel as a Teenager (Oil on wood) and Young American G.I. After the Battle of Manila in 1945 (Oil on canvas)
The Farmer’s House by Diosdado Lorenzo (Oil on plywood) and Women Washing by the Stream (Lavanderas) by Dominador Castañeda (Oil on canvas)
Explosion No. 141 by Lee Aguinaldo (Oil on lawanit) whose books and shirts are available at Ateneo Art Gallery Store
Portrait of Vidal Tan by Anita Magsaysay Ho (Oil on canvas) and Portrait of Fernando Zóbel by Jose Luis Balaguero (Oil on canvas)
Ang Paglalakbay by Antipas Delotavo (Oil on canvas) and The Bystander by Martino Abellana (Oil on canvas). These are my favorites.
Magbubulaklak by Angelito Antonio (Oil on lawanit) and Sari-Sari Store by Antonio Austria (Oil on plywood)
For more information, visit www.ateneoartgallery.org.
Where: Level 2, Rizal Library Special Collections Building, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
When: Ateneo Art Gallery is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm and on Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
How Much: Admission is free for individual visitors but large groups (larger than 20 people) have to pay P30.00 (US $0.67). Please call the Curatorial Office at 426-6488 for inquiries.
How to get there: Take the LRT-2 to Katipunan Avenue. Take the North Exit and walk along Aurora Boulevard until Katipunan Avenue (2-3 minutes).
1) Turn left and walk until the first street corner. Turn left. There is a tricycle terminal along Esteban Abada. Look for a tricycle that can take you inside the campus. Traffic is heavy along Katipunan so much so that the side streets are affected. This tricycle ride might last 5 minutes or half an hour.
2) Turn left and walk until Gate 3 of Ateneo de Manila. This might take 10-15 minutes.
3) Walk to the jeepney stop (UP-Diliman-Katipunan route). Ride the jeepney and alight from the jeepney near Gate 3 of Ateneo de Manila University.