Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Wenceslao Cuevas

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Wenceslao "Tito" Cuevas (Sep 2, 1938 –Mar 19, 2012)  is considered as the father of Cebuano abstract expressionism. 

In the 70's, after visiting the Museum of Modern Art in New York , he was inspired by the works of Franz Kline and Mark Rothko.  He started doing his style of abstract expressionism and prodded his Cebuano contemporaries to cut back painting in the realist-impressionist manner and create something different. This was one of the reasons why Celso Pepito was inspired to try cubism. He also dabbled on abstract expressionism as a Fine Arts student and even made it his thesis in UP Cebu.  Pepito considers Cuevas  as the Father of Modern Cebuano Art- by modern he meant non- traditional painting.

During this time, Cebu was not ready for abstract expressionism and his paintings were generally disliked and bought only by few select group of unconventional collectors.  

Today, his paintings are well sought after both locally and internationally.   A basic 3' x 2' Cuevas abstract currently sells at 1M.


The Nonce- Mixed Media


Madonna and Child, Monoprint, 2001

 

Mother and Child, Continuous line drawing sketch, 2002


Naked Woman with Child, Continuous line drawing sketch,  2002   

Book on his life, 2018 by Teresita Gimenez Maceda

... Tito Cuevas learned the technique of continuous line drawing from Prof. Jumalon.. 

... a series of one-stroke pen finished nudes. They were beautiful. They were delicate. And they were fluid... After the exhibit, the gallery owner (Stephan Zenz) told Tito that it sold out and there are a lot of people who are asking for more. Can you do a few more? 

... And Tito said NO, I'm done with that. I don't do that anymore. He just wouldn't.  He wouldn't even entertain the idea.  

Chapter closed. Gone....


Excerpts from the book above (Tito Cuevas in Bold Strokes) p.36


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