Nena Saguil 2024 Book Launch
Nena Saguil 2024 Book Launch Commemorating Her 110th Birth Anniversary
On September 12, 2024, art connoisseurs together with the Saguil family gathered at the Ben Chan ArtSuite, located within the Areté at Ateneo de Manila University, to celebrate the launch of the Nena Saguil 2024 Book. Marking the 110th birth anniversary of the pioneering Filipino abstract artist, the book serves as a vital documentation of Saguil’s artistic journey, featuring a curated selection of her most significant works—diptychs, triptychs, polyptychs, and other rare pieces.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Juan Carlos Pineda, CEO of Art House, setting the stage for an afternoon of reflection and celebration. A special highlight was the presentation by Benjamin Saguil Jr., the artist’s nephew, who provided insights into the book’s conception and its significance in preserving Saguil’s legacy. Beyond the artworks themselves, the publication includes a rare, previously unpublished article by Ernest Fraenkel, offering a deep dive into Saguil’s artistic and human persona. Originally written in French, this piece was translated into English under the guidance of the late Professor Emmanuel Torres of Ateneo de Manila University, ensuring its accessibility to a broader audience.
One of the most anticipated moments of the launch was the special talk by Wang Zineng, founder of Art Agenda S.E.A. In his presentation, Alone Together: Nena Saguil and Kindred Artists, Zineng examined Saguil’s place within global 20th-century art, drawing connections between her and other pioneering female artists such as Hilma af Klint, Agnes Pelton, and Yayoi Kusama. His insights shed new light on Saguil’s artistic evolution from representational art to her deeply metaphysical abstractions, highlighting her engagement with solitude and spirituality as a means of creative expression.
The event concluded with a mingling session where attendees had the opportunity to view select works by Saguil from the Ateneo Art Gallery’s collection. Guests also had the chance to engage with contributors and have their copies of the book signed, fostering an intimate exchange of ideas and appreciation for Saguil’s enduring impact on Philippine and global art.
The book is a testament to the artist’s unwavering pursuit of the absolute and her continued relevance in contemporary discussions on abstraction and spirituality. This launch not only celebrated Nena’s legacy but also reinforced the importance of preserving and studying the works of Filipino modernists on the global stage.
