GOVPH

Macario Vitalis Exhibit Opens in Puteaux

11 April 2022, Paris – Filipino and French art aficionados and members of the Filipino community trooped to the Maison Lorrilleux at Puteaux on 9 April 2022 for the opening of Macario Vitalis, Un Peintre philippin en France (a Filipino Painter in France).

Her Excellency Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West and exhibit curator Ms. Christine Thorailler welcomed the guests and provided background information on the life of Vitalis in France. 

“We celebrate Vitalis’ accomplishments today, as a painter and as a man, for without knowing it and even before the term was in use, his life in France became a prime example of people-to-people understanding and solidarity, rooted in his devotion to his art”, Ambassador Mahilum-West remarked.

The Ambassador also noted how Vitalis imbibed inspiration from the cultural and artistic environment in Paris, world capital of the arts, which led to the flourishing of his work as a painter.

Ms. Thorailler recounted how the paintings of Vitalis captured her attention when she first saw them, for their vibrant colors, celebratory mood, and Vitalis’ own distinctive style that is discernible through the cubist, impressionist and pointillist layers.

Macario Vitalis was a multi-awarded painter who was born in 1898, and arrived in France in 1925 at the age of 27 after his fine arts studies in California.  He lived most of his life in France, first in Puteaux and later in Plestin-les-Greves in Britanny, and only returned to the Philippines in 1986. He died and was buried in the Philippines in 1989.

Over 40 paintings of Macario Vitalis were on display, tracing the evolution of his artistic style.  The exhibit highlighted works from his cubist period which is  considered to be pivotal in his career as a painter.

The retrospective is a partnership between the Philippine Embassy and the Mairie (City Hall) of Puteaux which was represented by Ms. Christelle Laverrière, Director General   Culture, Sport, Association life and Sustainable development. END

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