Three noted collectors discuss the value of an auction star’s work vis a vis a legacy piece fit for a cultural institution
On the second part of the discussion, the three panelists weighed in on several pairs of artworks, all part of the lots in this weekend’s auction. Drilon asked the gentlemen to say whether they deemed an artwork to be an auction star or a priceless museum piece.
Laya and Garcia agreed on the Imao as a highly creative interpretation of the sarimanok, and Quimbo brought up the imposing quality of the sculpture. Against the Orlina, the Imao—or any Imao for that matter—is the rarer sight. While the popularity of Orlina’s works place him as the country’s foremost glass sculptor, his pieces present in many affluent homes , Imao’s distinction is that he is one of the earliest recognizable Filipino artists from Mindanao, and he’s a National Artist.
“I think you should choose the best works of the artist also,” said Garcia, by which he meant good, representative pieces of the artist’s periods of development. “Not all works of a National artist is… he has to earn his bread also. Not all of them are worthy of the museum perhaps, and he wouldn’t like all his works to be in the museum I think.”