The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through its Visual Arts and Museum Division, has loaned five artworks from its 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection to the National Gallery Singapore (NGS). These pieces are part of Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential, the gallery’s first solo exhibition dedicated to the influential Filipino-Spanish abstract artist.
This collaboration is part of CCP’s ongoing mission to promote Philippine art internationally and strengthen cultural ties in Southeast Asia. The loaned artworks include Painting No. 1 by National Artist Jose Joya; Portrait of Fernando Zóbel and Fernando Zóbel Lecturing on Art and a Student Listening II by David Medalla; Calligraphic Oracle by Manuel Rodriguez Sr.; and Zóbel’s own Ku III.
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Born in the Philippines to a Spanish family, Fernando Zóbel was a painter, collector, and scholar whose abstract works left a lasting impact on modern art. His career spanned continents and disciplines, from drawing and painting to photography and printmaking. The exhibition showcases over 200 works and archival materials, offering a broad view of his artistic evolution.
The CCP artworks contribute to this narrative. Zóbel’s Ku III displays his signature minimalism and refined brushwork. Medalla’s Portrait of Fernando Zóbel playfully reimagines the artist in a childlike, exaggerated style, reflecting early signs of Medalla’s Dadaist and Art Brut influences. In Fernando Zóbel Lecturing on Art and a Student Listening II, Medalla captures Zóbel in a quiet, reflective moment with pen and ink.
Rodriguez’s Calligraphic Oracle uses textured printmaking techniques and vibrant color to show his contribution to Philippine modernism. Joya’s Painting No. 1, marked by bold geometric forms and layered patterns, reflects his European influences and mastery of abstract expressionism.
Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential follows recent retrospectives in Spain and the Philippines and brings fresh insight into Zóbel’s disciplined approach to abstraction. The exhibit is divided into five sections, tracing his artistic journey—from his early inspirations and time in New England to his return to Filipino themes, exploration of movement, and final contemplative works.
The exhibition runs from May 9, 2024, to November 30, 2025, at the Wu Guanzhong Gallery and Level 4 Gallery at the National Gallery Singapore.
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