VINTAGE VITALIS

REDISCOVERING MACARIO VITALIS

Manila connoisseurs and collectors have long known Macario Vitalis (1898 – 1989) for his pointillist paintings. The Alliance Française de Manille’s Total Gallery presents an exceptional exhibition of Vintage Vitalis drawings and paintings of the 30s to the 60s, curated by artists Ofelia Gelvezón-Téqui and Claude Tayag. Gelvezón-Téqui and Tayag, who knew Vitalis personally, felt that the creations of this period, relatively unknown in the Philippines, merited to be exhibited and appreciated.

Vitalis never kept a “stock” of his own works. The paintings and drawings presented by Alliance Française de Manille in the Vintage Vitalis exhibition are mostly drawn from private collectors who had, over a number of years, patiently sought them out in Flea Markets and auctions in France. The exhibition is not a retrospective but a select collection of works from this rich period of Vitalis’ life. The majority of the works are from the estate of Camille Renault, an important art patron who circulated in the French art circles and had recognized talent in Vitalis.

What is new and interesting in the Vitalis works of this period is his artistic evolution as he reacted and responded to the social and intellectual climate of France during the years before and after World War II. There are lyrical portraits and still lifes of his early period, as well as prismatic compositions and vibrant colors of the later years. The Vintage Vitalis exhibition portrays the many facets of Vitalis as he explored different artistic expressions until he arrived at Pointillism, familiar to us all.

Vintage Vitalis opens with an artist’s reception from 6:30 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at the Total Gallery of the Alliance Française de Manille. The exhibit runs until March 31, 2011. For high resolution images of the artworks and more details about the exhibit, kindly contact Mr. Earl Parco (AFM Cultural Officer) at 895 7441 / 895 7585 or email cultural@alliance.ph, or visit the AFM website at www.alliance.ph.