Footnotes

Provenance
Christie's Hong Kong, 26 November 2017, lot 461
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Private collection, Europe

荷西‧荷雅
無題
油彩 紙板
1957年作

簽名：Joya 57 （右下）

來源
香港佳士得, 2017年11月26日, 編號461
現藏家得自上述來源
歐洲私人收藏


José Joya was a pioneering figure in the development of Philippine Abstract Expressionism, who was posthumously awarded the title of National Artist of the Philippines.

His cross-cultural academic background laid the foundations of his creative journey. In 1953, Joya graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines, where he received formal training in an academic style but was exposed to emerging artistic trends. In 1954 he received a grant to study in Madrid, and between 1956 and 1957, he pursued his master's degree at the Cranbook School of Art in Michigan on a Fulbright Smith-Mundt Scholarship. During this period abroad, he came across paintings by influential Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Though deeply inspired by their non-figurative works, he was determined not to become a mere imitator, and instead, blended his own approach with Abstract Expressionism to develop a unique style. The resulting artworks exude energy, vitality, and a profound sense of spirituality.

Joya employed a variety of techniques in his works, thus making his canvases become a space where emotions collide and where the intangible takes form. His use of impasto strokes builds texture, creating peaks and valleys that invite tactile exploration. Transparent layers intermingle, revealing hidden narratives - the artist's inner dialogue laid bare. Controlled drips throughout his works become a testament to the artist's spontaneity and dynamism.

Another captivating feature of Joya's works is the bold and vibrant colour palette, reminiscent of the tropical hues of his native Philippines. Evoking the warmth of the sun, the rustling of leaves, and the scent of rain-soaked earth, Joya's art speaks a language beyond words - a symphony of chromatic notes.

José Joya challenges convention in his abstract realm, encouraging the viewer to embrace the ineffable. As we gaze into his paintings, we catch a glimpse of eternity. Transcending time and foreign influences, they invite us to immerse ourselves in their vivid and mysterious depths.