Vendors
signed (lower right)ca. 1970
oil on canvas
30" x 36" (76 cm x 91 cm)


PROVENANCEPrivate collection, Manila



Depictions of vendors have been an enduring theme that threads various generations of the Philippine art scene together. From Fernando Amorsolo’s idyllic portrayals of fruit vendors to contemporary artists’ sculpture renditions of the maglalako, Filipino artists have no shortage of vendor paintings to provide. They have become ubiquitous to one’s “Filipino-ness,” a way of showing their love for the country. One artist who rose to the challenge of depicting the classical theme is Lucban-born Oscar Zalameda with his aptly titled Vendors.Flashy and flamboyant in life as in art, Zalameda never fails to bring vibrancy even as he depicts the mundane, everyday life of the common folks. In fact, it is this ornate attitude that elevates Zalameda’s folk genre pieces. In his Vendors, faceless women depicted in Zalameda's loose cubist form dominate the canvas, bodies relaxed but no less attention- grabbing. Their wares cradled in their hands, the women lean towards each other as they walk, perhaps deep in conversation or gossip as one is wont to do as a pastime. As is expected of Zalameda's subjects, these women are lively and vibrant, full of life as they amble to their next destination.Zalameda's animated style and unconventional color schemes emphasize the vibrancy of the world from which he draws his inspiration. The blank faces invite further personalization of the art-viewing experience – these women are no longer just Zalameda’s version of the sellers; they now become the vendors we see every day. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, Zalameda reminds us to slow down and appreciate those we often overlook, including the workers from whom we get our daily goods. (Hannah Valiente)