Bernardo Pacquing (b. 1967)
Untitled

oil on canvas
48" x 24" (122 cm x 61 cm)







Contemporary artist Bernardo Pacquing’s nonrepresentational works are marked by subdued colors, minimalist aesthetic, and Asian sensibility. His canvases display disparate forms and everyday objects coexisting in a spatial abstract field, often evoking a Zen-like feel and a state of existential calm. This aptly titled work shows the artist’s genius in pure gestural abstraction and minimalist approach to expression. A sublime take on the symbiotic relationships of forms, Pacquing presents a loose urban experience and an open interpretation on shared space and interactions. Pacquing’s approach to abstractionism also imparts a feeling of wonder and curiosity as his relatively simple elements are able to unearth a variety of moods and reactions, effectively linking his practice to the investigation of human nature. Born in Tarlac, Pacquing won the Art Association of the Philippines Open Art Competition’s Grand Prize twice, in 1992 for the Painting Category and in 1999 for the NonRepresentation Category. In 2000, he was one of the recipients of the CCP Thirteen Artists Awards. He also received a Freeman Fellowship Grant for a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in the United States. (J.D.)