Mother & Child
signed and dated 1989 (lower right)
gouache
4" x 5 3/4" (10 cm x 14 cm)
Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mr. Soler Santos confirming the authenticity of this lot
PROVENANCE: Acquired directly from Soler Santos by the present owner


In 1989, the West Gallery opened its doors to the public, with Malang's son, Soler, as its founder/owner. As the son of a revered painter, Soler, then a young artist following in his father's footsteps, conceived the gallery out of the necessity to provide a space for his fellow burgeoning artists to showcase their exciting works. At the end of the 1980s, Malang was already an influential name in Philippine art. He likely felt the impetus to give back to the art community. He offered Soler a lot along West Avenue in Quezon City for his art space. Thus, the genesis of the West Gallery.Malang then gave the work at hand as a gift to his dear son for the latter's serious endeavor in the further advancement of Filipino art through the promotion of his peers. The work is symbolic of Soler and his gallery; he represents the "mother" that "conceived, gave birth to, and nurtured" her child—West Gallery. Interestingly, this work also alludes to the maternal bond between Soler and his mother, Mary San Pedro Santos. The gallery's first anniversary would coincide with Soler's 30th birthday in the succeeding year. Therefore, this piece encapsulates a celebration of milestones in Soler's life and career—and the paternal connection between him and Malang borne out of their shared aspirations for Philippine art.The piece depicts a mother and child rendered in Malang's signature cubistic folds. The work employs gouache as a medium, which Malang found "movable and flexible." The viewer can discern that Malang excels in small-scale works due to his background as an award-winning cartoonist. Here, we can see Malang's rigor in achieving refinement in form and style. Colors and strokes are finely delineated. Minute details, such as the creases on the figures' clothes, are clearly defined. (A.M.)