Elaine O. Herbosa: ‘This show is my swan song’
It’s hard to think that this indefatigable gallery owner, mother, grandmother, artist and mentor for other artists had an incident last February, resulting in her becoming, uh, “bionic.”
“I underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted,” Herbosa informs us. “My era of being a superwoman has abruptly ended.” She shakes her head and says it would seem the entirety of the sky fell on top of her head. “I took it as a sign to slow down and…” she pauses for emphasis, “pace myself.”
Elaine, a member of the Ongpin clan, has been immersed in the arts for what seems like an eternity. Her great-great-great-grandfather is Damian Domingo, considered as the first prominent Filipino painter. Damian passed the torch to Roman Ongpin, a patriot and a significant figure during the Philippine Revolution, whose statue stands proudly in front of the Binondo Church. His son, Alfonso, was one of the staunchest collectors of Philippine art in his time. Elaine has done her share for art with the establishment of L’Arc en Ciel gallery.
Her artful, colorful path strewn with painted flowers has led her here: a final exhibition, her swan song.
“Somehow, no one believes me when I tell them this is my last show, repeatedly like a broken record (laughs).”
She sees her daughter, Mia, as someone who will continue to inspire the L’Arc en Ciel community of artists. “In the year 2000, Mia received the prestigious Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant at her alma mater, The Art Students League of New York. This accolade, highly regarded within the institution, significantly boosted her career. Today, she is recognized as one of the most accomplished and in-demand portrait artists in our country.”
What motivated Elaine to open her own gallery?
“After Mia won the award, she needed a Manila gallery to exhibit her prize-winning works. It was an impossibility to book a gallery on such short notice. So, as expected of me to always be a miracle worker, I converted the annex to my home as a gallery to have a space for her exhibition.”
It was an overwhelming success. The show featured Mia’s paintings, sculptures and lithography. She also conducted a painting workshop and there was a clamor for more. Thus, L’Arc en Ciel was born: a gallery space inspired by The Art Students League of New York, offering classes in classical realism.
“L’Arc en Ciel has supported many artists since the late 1990s. I have curated many shows since then. In our upcoming show, I have included fresh young artists I discovered who had enrolled in classical realism at L’Arc en Ciel. One of them, Rommel Tingzon, is an FEU scholar from Palawan. I’m proud to present them in ‘Carpe Diem II.’”
L’Arc en Ciel’s “Carpe Diem II” opens on July 17, 4 p.m., at the Ayala Museum ArtistSpace. The exhibition features Elaine O. Herbosa, Miguel Buhay, Rene Canlas, Julia Cuunjieng, Noemi Concepcion, Skyler de Leon, Margarita Fandiño, Alfred Galura, Lizette Gueco, Miel Pangilinan, Pilar Quiros, Maribeth Santiago, and Rommel Tingzon. The show is on view until July 30.
After this so-called swan song, what will the tireless Elaine do next?
“I will still be around, I guess. I want to work on a coffee-table book about Mia. The book will include my famous ancestors and their legacy. Of course, it will feature L’Arc en Ciel. My daughter will eventually take over and carry the torch for the next generation.”
In all her experiences as an artist and gallery owner, what stands out the most?
“At the ManilArt fair in SMX a few years back, the artist Romulo Galicano visited the L’Arc en Ciel booth. He said my painting was the best one in the booth… even in the entire show.”
The work was a simple still life that Elaine had painted in New York. No angst, no distortions, just pure expression rendered in majestic colors. Her entire philosophy dabbed on canvas.
She concludes, “Maybe Galicano was drunk at that time (laughs), but to hear that from him was a feather in my cap. A few minutes later, a famous collector bought it.”
Elaine’s heart was racing.
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“Carpe Diem II” is on view from July 17 to 30 at ArtistSpace, ground level, Ayala Museum Annex, Makati Ave. corner De La Rosa St., Greenbelt Park, Makati City. For information, visit L’Arc en Ciel on social media.