Newsman Julius Babao has many pursuits and interests—from a YouTube channel for sneakerheads to collecting toys, tending a garden and assembling a fine art collection. Going around his home is a veritable museum tour.
This month, ANCX collaborates with top auction house Leon Gallery for its Spectacular Mid Year Auction on June 20, and we asked influential names who love art to choose their top picks among 125 auction pieces. Julius is one of them.
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More than a platform for the buy and sell of art and antiquities, Leon Gallery has showcased the best in Philippine Art from the masters of yore to the contemporary superstars of today. Viewing their auction pieces is like going to a major art exhibit and is an enthralling visual treat and history lesson for buyers and non-buyers alike.
Here are Julius’s top choices.
Andres Barrioquinto
Andres Barrioquinto was dubbed the dark man of Philippine Art in the 90s. His strokes and colors were wild and painterly back then. Once in a while he goes back to doing paintings like this which I believe is really the core of the artist.
Spectator by Mark Justiniani
The intricate details of this artwork is superb. Mark Justiniani is known for his whimsical subjects which he injects with social narrative and his personal commentaries. This is definitely one of his best works.
The Audacious Future by Mark Aran Reyes
A beautiful minimalist surrealist painting by a very talented young artist. He is young but his limited artworks have already made a mark among art afficionados. One can never go wrong with any of his paintings.
Before We Leave by Zean Cabangis
He is one of my favorite painters. He juxtaposes photographic images with geometric and linear patterns in his artworks. There are so many things happening in this painting but surprisingly the outcome is in equilibrium.
Goddesses by Malang, Ang Kiukok, Yonzon
In the years that I have known Malang and Kiukok—who are my wedding godfathers—I have never seen an interaction between these two. This is truly a remarkable and collectible piece of art and history by three great artists.
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View the Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2020 catalogue as well as register to bid now at www.leon-gallery.com.