Angelito "Jo" Florendo, an artist from Tanay, Rizal, who masterfully depicts kois, mounts his 19th solo exhibition at the lobby of the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Entitled "Au-gusto Ko," the exhibit, which features 20 of his recent works, opened on 23 August and runs until 17 September.
The central piece of the exhibit, a large painting called Wonderful Day, is going to be donated to the art collection of PHC. This work features different types of koi including the oldest and most popular one called Kohaku, particularly the variety that resembles the Japanese flag — white with a red dot on its head.
Apart from his koi series, also featured are his colorful and eye-catching landscapes of the Sierra Madre mountain range foregrounded by thick grasses and shrubs or trees, and children playing kites, a popular pastime among kids of yesteryears.
Striking in this exhibit is his new series featuring his new-found hobby — golf. The new works, rendered in colorful tones of yellow, purple, and orange, to name a few, are a deviation to his usual koi and rural scenes and offer a fresh look into his dynamism as an artist.
More than the golf players which are almost camouflaged in the whole ensemble, it is the general atmosphere of this series that attracts one's eyes.
These recent works give a surrealist aura in a realist setting. The mountains, the sky, the flying golf balls, and the falling leaves of various colors provide audiences with a feel of autumn and inner joy.
Everything is positive, from the movements and numbers, to the shapes of his subjects as being positive, and all symbols associated with it is Florendo's lifelong mantra. This positiveness transcends his works as a discerning audience would appreciate Florendo's artistic style and attitude as a person.
