Heat Wave
signed and dated May 22, 1983 (lower right)
collage
22" x 14" (56 cm x 36 cm)
Accompanied by a certificate issued by Josefa Joya Baldovinoconfirming the authenticity of this lot



Years after he was conferred with the prestigious title of National Artist for Visual Arts in Paintings the works of Jose Joya remain refreshingly original and unique; proof that the prolific painter was decades ahead of his time. Critics, academics, and curators alike have often claimed that Joya spearheaded the birth, interest, and development of abstract expressionism in the Philippines. Though Abstract Expressionism was not a novel concept in the art world, most of the works produced at the time were heavily influenced by Western and European schools of thought. Thus, Joya’s were critically lauded for its refreshing take on the medium that synthesized the core tenets of abstraction and abstract expressionism, but revitalized it with local and Asian styles and techniques. His works are characterized by calligraphic gestures and linear forces that express a spontaneous vitality inherent in Oriental and Asian sensibilities. His colors are derived from the natural beauty of his surroundings, thus his works were often abstract expressionist depictions of landscapes and sceneries. (J.D.)