Cover Nena Saguil's untitled 1986 oil on canvas painting (Photo: Art House PH)
Nena Saguil's untitled 1986 oil on canvas painting (Photo: Art House PH)
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In ‘saliNlahi: Connecting the Dots’, Art House and Discovery Primea display the rarest works of artist Nena Saguil. Read on to know more about this event
Stretched across five decades, from 1946 to 1994, Nena Saguil chose the restless life of an expat, planting her artistic roots in Saint Germain des Prés, Paris. There she bonded with French art luminaries such as Waldermar George, Gérard Dufaud and even Matisse.
This year, her artistic journey takes centre stage in saliNlahi: Connecting the Dots. Presented by Art House in collaboration with the Nena Saguil estate, the exhibition seeks to honour and celebrate the artist’s legacy.
The show traces the arc of Saguil’s evolution—from her formative years at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts to the bold, experimental works of her later period.
In case you missed it: Art House presents ‘Lakbay: Voyages into the Absolute with Nena Saguil’
Above Nena Saguil’s untitled work (1967) (Photo: Art House PH)
Nena Saguil’s untitled work (1967) (Photo: Art House PH)
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Ben Saguil, representative of the family, says that there were several phases in the late artist’s journey. “In the mid-1940s and 1950s, she created figurative works influenced by her professors at the University of the Philippines,” he says.
Nena also produced a few off-tangent pieces shaped by the styles of Picasso and Matisse. “By the latter part of the Fifties, she entered an experimental and exploratory phase that gave rise to many of her abstract works. From there, she developed a distinct visual language marked by spheres, circles, space and pointillism, which defined her art well into the Seventies.”
Art House founder Carlo Pineda, for his part, adds that the show is deeply rooted in their relationship with the Saguil estate. “Guided by shared values and goals, we see our role as integral to creating programmes that preserve and honour Nena Saguil’s legacy. Ultimately, our aim is to amplify her significant contributions to Filipino creativity and identity. For us, Nena Saguil is a master—a pioneering Filipino woman artist who pursued her craft independently while remaining deeply connected to her roots.”
More from Tatler: Philippine art scene’s foremost women artists, Anita Magsaysay-Ho and Nena Saguil, featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Above Nena Saguil’s untitled 1972 watercolour painting (Photo: Art House PH)
Nena Saguil’s untitled 1972 watercolour painting (Photo: Art House PH)
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saliNlahi, which will happen from September 26 to 28 at the Discovery Primea Hotel, will showcase rare and never-before-seen artworks by Nena Saguil. A quadriptych from the estate will be presented alongside pieces from her earlier periods, as well as works on loan from both established and emerging art collectors.
“We wanted to highlight Nena Saguil’s resonance across generations. This exhibition not only brings together collectors and enthusiasts of her works but also seeks to connect with the next generation. To this end, we are developing a merchandise collection featuring her art, making her vision accessible in new and meaningful ways,” Pineda says.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
