Joel Magpayo exhibits 50 at 50

By Zola Gonzalez-Macarambon

Accomplished Filipino artist Joel Magpayo opened his most recent art exhibition on 2 October 2015 at the Hunt Club Community Art Centre, Ballarat, Victoria. Fifty Hues of Gold is a celebration not only of the Magpayo’s enduring career in art but most importantly, an homage to 50 years of marriage with his wife Lynda.

Philippine Consul General in Victoria Felix Pintado, during the opening, commended Magpayo for over half a century’s work of creativity in the art practice and a life of commitment to family and love.

The exhibit celebrates the Magpayos’ 50th wedding anniversary with 50 art works executed in a range of the artist’s styles, mediums, and subjects. Universal themes intersect with subjects from the Philippine image/inary in pieces as Bayanihan. The painting refers to the traditional Filipino house-moving practice where villagers, without being asked and without expecting anything in return, gather to lift a house to as far as the owner wishes. Instantly recognisable in the piece are the values of generosity and community in a scene distinctly Filipino.

Having been in the Australian diaspora since ’79, the seasons, landscapes, and people also found their way into Magpayo’s image bank. In Autumn and Spring, earth and sky blur in the luminous colours of foliage. In Magpayo, the seasons attach on trees, burn on in the artist’s imagination, and materialise as vibrance on canvas. Another master work, Old Trammie, imagines a turn of the century tram driver rendered in expressionist brush strokes reminiscent of Van Gogh’s portrait of the postman Joseph Roulin. The artist is not only deft in a variety of mediums, from watercolour masterworks to paintings on silk, his technique also ranges from encaustic to wood and linocuts. Particularly impressive is Golden Melody, a reduction linocut print of sting and brass instruments that resonate like a Juan Gris.

The show was attended by many of the Magpayos family and friends, members of the Filipino community in Melbourne, and the artist’s peers in the Fil-Australian Artists of Melbourne (FAME): Arnel Sorilla, Jess Marasigan, Jake Merin, Do Noble, and Caesar Sario.

The exhibit runs until 31 October 2015. For enquiries email huntclubarts@brimbank.vic.gov.au or call mobile 03 9249 4600. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 9.00-5.30; Friday, 9.00-4.30; and Saturday, 9.00-12.00

Speech by Philippine Honorary Consul, Felix Pintado on 2nd October 2015 at the Opening of the “50 Hues of Gold” Solo Art Exhibition of Joel P Magpayo

Good evening distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to add my own remarks to the welcome you have already received and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which we stand here this evening, the Wurrundjeri people of the Kulin nation and I pay my respects to their elders past and present and to any elders who are here this evening.

I am very delighted and deeply honoured to be formally opening this wonderful exhibition by such an exciting and engaging artist.

When Joel Magpayo first asked me to be a guest speaker at this function, I was embarrassed to have to ask him to please provide me with more information on his works and himself as an artist. So, please allow me to tell you a little about the artist himself:

Joel P. Magpayo was born in the Philippines. He began his career as a free lance artist at age 16, doing comic and magazine illustrations, and as a visualizer for advertising companies.

He studied in the Philippines and in the US and shifted to full time painting at the age of 24, when he married Lynda.

Joel and Lynda and their five children migrated to Australia in 1979. They settled in the western suburbs of Melbourne where he re-launched his painting career as a full-time artist.

Joel has had 16 solo exhibitions in Australia and the Philippines and is actively exhibiting around Australia. He has won over over 200 arts awards and commendations, and his works may be found in private collections both here and overseas. Joel also runs demonstrations and workshops around Victoria.

He is a fellow of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists, a cofounder of Filipino Artists of Melbourne, and a member of the Victorian Artists Society.

As a Filipino artist, he has contributed his outstanding talent as a cartoonist for The Philippine Times in Melbourne winning the multicultural media award for best editorial cartoon.

But, tonight is not so much about the artist but his works. So, allow me to use the simple and unassuming words of the artist himself in describing the motivation behind this inspirational exhibition:

“My wife Lynda and I were married 50 years ago this year. This exhibition, 50 HUES OF GOLD is a celebration of our golden wedding anniversary. You see, I started painting the year we got married, departing from my work as a comics writer and illustrator. I have never worked full time outside of painting.

“On her insistence, she herself worked so I could devote myself to my art. She sold my very first painting which was painted so badly that only a mother could have appreciated it. If I have ever accomplished anything from my years of painting and to whatever extent, I know that I owe it in large measure to her.

Due to my ailing legs, I was unable to take Lynda on her dream cruise and yet, I wanted to acknowledge her support and long suffering in nourishing my career.

So, instead of taking her on a cruise, I am launching this exhibition for her, the 50 HUES OF GOLD, in recognition of the woman behind the artist.”

Joel, thank you so very much for sharing the inspiration behind your work and these wonderful examples of your artistic creativity. You have taken the traditional exchange of Gold rings between husband and wife to an amazing new level.

These beautiful works of art were not created overnight. Each and every single piece is an expression of your love, affection and undying gratitude for Lynda. And you have done this with a commitment to achieve this exhibition with so much vibrancy and inspiring energy. You have certainly raised the bar for all husbands.

Lynda, …Joel’s success is a credit to you. For Filipinos, a husband and wife are most effective when they mirror each other. Well, Lynda you have shown us how equally amazing, if not more amazing, you are to have fostered Joel’s creativity over 50 years.

Allow me to share with two pieces of wisdom on this occasion. A very wise person once wrote this simple poem, which has stuck with me over many years:

There are two states
We come from
Whenever we speak
Whether we be
Bold or bashful
Mean or meek
That shape our answer
Before the question is clear
Those two states
We come from
Are love or fear.

Joel, your artwork clearly comes from a state of love deep in your heart, which has shaped your beautiful answer to Lynda in the form of 50 hues of gold for the 50 years of your relationship.

That same wise man, once gave me some advice about relationships. He said to me: “In a relationship between two people that supposedly love each other, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What is it that you create together?
2. Is it something greater than yourself?
3. Is it something that you would create for yourself if you had a choice?”

Joel, what you have done here this evening is capture all those years of what you and Lynda have created together, and all the love between you, and expressed it as beautiful art.

Because of this, you are leaving a legacy of what can be achieved when two people nurture a loving and creative relationship that becomes greater than each of them individually.

Joel and Lynda, like many Filipinos who are here this evening and who will visit this exhibition until the end of October, I am proud to call you my kababayan. As an Australian, I am so glad that you chose this country and this state of Victoria in which to settle.

I encourage everyone here to tell their friends about these amazing works of art and the inspiration behind them, and to come and see for themselves.

Joel and Lynda, I wish you a very Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary and, in so doing, declare this solo art exhibition titled “50 Hues of Gold” formally open to the public.

Thank you.