Landscapes

Another favorite subject of Alcuaz are landscapes. He had first cultivated his interest in this subject thanks to his painting professor, Toribio Herrera, at the University of the Philippines. Initally, he painted the barong-barongs (shanty towns) at Pasig. Later on, he painted New York’s rooftops as well as the grey winters of Central Park. Dr. Rod Paras-Perez describes him as the “epic troubadour of the urban landscape”, capturing as he has, time and again, the wonders of a Manila Bay sunset or the wide angle views of Manila, Makati, Binondo, or the Intramuros skyline. His landscapes are often done from a high panoramic viewpoint, usually from his hotel room or the roof of a tall building. He would avoid depicting too many details, opting to merely suggest them instead in his work. He has painted New York, Barcelona, Santander, and other cities he visited in the past, but the images of Manila remain among his most poignant, captivating and enthralling works.

His Manila Bay series as well as paintings of the parts and harbors of Manila are part of this category.

Alcuaz recalled that his paintings of the landscapes of Manila started sometime in the late Sixties. He had wanted to do a panoramic painting of the view of the walled city of Intramuros. Unfortunately, although he had asked for such a room with that view, the front desk had made a mistake and put him on the other side of the hotel. He decided to make do with this view and came up with his now iconinc paintings of the Manila Bay, the Luneta Park, and the green rooftops of the city.

Panoramic Tableau

17.5 x 20.5 | Oil On Canvas

Year 1979

Private Collection

Abstracts

During the time he lived in Europe, Alcuaz found himself in a world enthralled by Picasso, de Kooning, Jackson Pollack, Matisse, and Kandinsky. This encouraged him to paint his abstract works for which he is known both internationally and locally.

Untitled

17.25 x 24.5 in | Oil on Board

Year 1970

Bobby & Jing Santos Collection

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Untitled 16 x 20 in | Oil on Canvas Private Collection

Composite in Green 12 x 18 in | Mix Media on paper

Untitled

9.5 x 12.75 in | Watercolor on Paper

Year 1969

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Verdant Forest

13.5 x 10.5 in | Oil on Board

Year 1980

Maria Briones Private Collection