{"status":true,"msg":{"data":{"id":14595,"auction_id":14,"set_id":26,"lot_number":"4","artist":"Cesar Legaspi (1917 - 1994)","title":"Yellow Kapok","starting_price":700000,"signed_dated":"signed and dated 1985 (lower right)","medium":"oil on canvas","size":"24\" x 35\" (61 cm x 89 cm)","property":null,"coa":null,"provenance":null,"exhibited":null,"literature":null,"write_up":"The national artist, Cesar Legaspi has been described as a pioneer in the art field as he was later referred to as part of the “Thirteen Moderns” or the “Neo-Realists”. Alongside contemporaries such as Hermando Ocampo, he had developed a unique style that made him stand out during his time. Through his career as a painter, Legaspi had been part of many exhibitions abroad, one being the Wraxall Gallery in London in 1982. At the same time, he was a member of the Art Association in the Philippines and the head of the “Saturday Group” artists until his death in 1994.
Legaspi’s career and contributions to the modern art world had indeed left a great impact, as his style of cubism mixed into fragmentation techniques with expansive interacting forms along with themes on social commentary of the time created artworks that speak volumes of powerful meaning.
Many of his works do focus on themes of real-world problems such as poverty, as it is depicted through combinations of disoriented shapes and figures to evoke powerful and deep emotions to the viewer. However, in contrast to his other works in this particular piece, Legaspi utilizes his distinct style of cubism into depicting a scene of a yellow kapok flower in bloom.
The three flowers are set upon a branch as they are placed in front of a background of the wind and sky in white and different shades of blue. The flowers themselves are contrasted from the background as they are in brighter shades of yellow and white while different warped shapes are formed together to depict the petals of the flower itself. Although it may not be striking in social commentary at first glance, Legaspi still manages to evoke emotion through the scene he has painted as he draws attention to the three lone flowers in bloom as they are surrounded by the wind and sky. With his blend of cubism and fragmentation technique, Legaspi shows a balance between the feeling of isolation and the beautiful serenity of the lone image of three yellow kapok flowers.","lot_group":"PAINTING","lot_details_html":"
Cesar Legaspi (1917 - 1994) Yellow Kapok signed and dated 1985 (lower right) oil on canvas 24\" x 35\" (61 cm x 89 cm)