Alliance Française de Manille
presents: Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi
Perigord Still Life
Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi, painter and printmaker, comes once again on her annual pilgrimage to her homeland with an offering of some twenty or so still life paintings on exhibit at the Alliance Française de Manille starting November 6.
This new body of works reveals an evolution of Gelvezon-Tequi’s colours from the bright tropical hues of her past paintings to more subtle chromaticisms of grey, green and yellow. The subject matter, late summer gourds and old provincial pottery, suggests a glimpse of the world where Gelvezon-Tequi now lives.
Having always inhabited big cities, it was an apprehension for her to move - upon her husband Marc’s early retirement - to live in Limeuil, a small village of 350 souls in the heart of the Perigord region. The Perigord, in the Southwest part of France, is known for its “foei gras” and truffles, its thousand chateaux, its decorated prehistoric caves. But with her strong spirit and usual vivacity Gelvezon-Tequi tackled with enthusiasm this different lifestyle and learned to love country living. The artist drew inspiration from the old objects around her - a kitchen table that had seen generations of use, chipped ceramic pots and pitchers that contained long gone walnut oil and duck confit, colourful gourds harvested at the start of autumn. She composed numerous variations of her subject matter that gently ask us to reflect on memory and time.
The exhibit is until November 28 at the Alliance Française Total Gallery, 209 Nicanor Garcia Street (formerly Reposo), Bel Air 2, Makati. The artist’s reception shall be on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at Alliance Francaise de Manille’s Total Gallery. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 pm.
Gelvezon-Tequi has accepted the invitation of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines (MFP) to give an Artist’s Talk on her life and art in the Perigord at its Fellowship gathering for members and other interested guests, at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at the same venue.
