José Ramón Diokno Olives, or Monchet, is a collector, gourmand, and dandy. He is also a columnist for The Philippine Star. While more known as a style savant, the man has his roots in the broadcasting world, having co-founded ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel. Now retired, he maintains various consultancy work where he is able to flex his flair for corporate communications, style, and interior design.
Monchet joins our circle of tastemakers for the upcoming Leon Gallery Kingly Treasures Auction. With his trained eye for the refined as well as the ruggedly stylish, we knew he will give a fresh perspective when it comes to picking the best from the offerings up for bids. Based on his choices, he didn’t disappoint.
His top 5 recommendations are also quintessentially, well, Monchet: majority of them evoke the importance of dress as armor, while one is like a piece from his collection of vibrant scarves that he likes to wear with his Barbour jacket or guayabera when moving around Rockwell, his neighborhood.
“Although I’m a great fan of the 13 Moderns and of midcentury work, I picked pieces that I feel peek into my soul,” he tells ANCX, Leon Gallery’s co-presenter for the December 4 auction event.
And so here they are—Monchet’s top 5:
Lot 2 Man with Beard, Jose Joya
“Because I see myself in him. Also, much of my pieces by Joya are male nudes and this piece is a perfect study item.”
Lot 21 Paypay, Emmanuel Garibay
“It captures what I do as a craftsman, our family being the oldest abanico maker in the country celebrating 70 years this year. Her ‘languid emancipation,’ as the catalogue states, draws me as a fan maker harkening to the Victorian language of the fan.”
Lot 80 Celeriac #3, Paris, Denise Weldon
“I have always been a follower of Denise Weldon’s photographs and ‘Cereliac #3’ calls on our need to regroup. As avid cook, the root crop beckons, and gives her point of view texture, in a time of existential depression.”
Lot 134 Superstar Chair, Charlie Co
“I am a Charlie Co collector and this painting captures his deep social commentary and arresting color play.”
Lot 162 Untitled, Luke Alarcon
“It leans to my love for Spanish and Renaissance-style pieces. Much like Jason Montinola, Alarcon breaks into the artscene with a refreshing mix of technique. The facial features remind me of Velaquez or even Rembrandt. This remains to be my favorite piece.”
[The artworks for the upcoming Kingly Treasures Auction are available for viewing from November 27 to December 3, Saturday to Friday, from 9 AM to 7 PM, at León Gallery, G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City. The Kingly Treasures Auction 2021 is co-presented by ANCX.ph, the urban man’s guide to culture and style, and the lifestyle website of the ABS-CBN News Channel.
For further inquiries, email info@leon-gallery.com or contact +632 8856-27-81. To browse the catalog, visit www.leon-gallery.com. For updates, follow León Gallery on their social media pages: Facebook - www.facebook.com/leongallerymakati and Instagram @leongallerymakati.]