Jose Zulueta exhibits
‘Aotearoa Series’ in NY
Visual artist and photojournalist Jose
Vinluan Zulueta presents his 3rd
one-man show, entitled "Aotearoa Series," at 6 p.m. on December
19 at the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth ave., Manhattan, New
York. Invitational cocktail reception will be held on the
opening of the exhibit.
"Aotearoa Series" is a collection of 25
paintings on canvas, rendered in oil and acrylic. These are the
artist’s most recent works, following his September 2002
exhibition entitled, "Asinta: Images and Imageries."
Aotearoa, which translates to "Land of the
Long White Cloud," is New Zealand’s indigenous name. The artist
has made New Zealand his home since January 2003.
The paintings were inspired by the artist’s
impressions and reflections of his experiences abroad. These
artworks chronicle the artist’s emotional journey, culminating
in hope and a resolve to overcome. These works have served as
the artist’s refuge…his sanctuary.
"At first glance, this series of Jose Vinluan
Zulueta is a terrible discourse on the annihilated self. Man’s
contorted and sometimes mutilated body perhaps best expresses
Zulueta’s own sentiments as a migrant Filipino artist. Yet his
humanity as a Filipino also seems to urge him into providing
spaces for dreams – some literal wings of hope for a future
redemption. Zulueta still fervently wishes for man’s ultimate
salvation form history of violent and violated existence,"
comments National Artist for Literature, Virgilio Almario.
Other literary writers and journalists whose
commentaries will accompany Zulueta’s paintings are Pambansang
Makata ng Filipinas Teo Antonio, SEAWrite awardee Roberto
Anonuevo, poet and critic Rebecca Añonuevo, editor Ariel Dim.
Borlongan, performance artist Vim Nadera, poet Marne Kilates,
art critic Gino Dormiendo, and writer Juaniyo Arcellana, among
others.
Consul General Cecilia Rebong of the
Philippines’ Consulate General in New York, along with
Department of Trade and Industry representative Eugene Reyes and
Philippine Center Management Board general manager Gavino Abaya,
Jr., are the guests of honor on the opening night of the
exhibition.
Prior to his immigration to New Zealand, Jose
Vinluan Zulueta was an exhibiting artist and worked as news
photographer in a major daily newspaper in the Philippines. In
September 2002, he launched a successful solo digital art
exhibition and book launch, dubbed "Asinta: Images and
Imageries," at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City. The exhibition was
in collaboration with UP Creative Writing director and TOYM
Awardee Vim Nadera.
Zulueta graduated from the College of
Architecture and Fine Arts of the University of Santo Tomas, and
was a former staff artist of the college newspaper, The
Varsitarian.
The New York exhibit runs from December 19-30. For further
information, call the Philippine Center, New York at tel. nos.
(212) 575 4774 and fax (212) 575 3133. | 
