Let's face it. More often than not, we forget that art could be so much more than what meets the eye. It is timeless and it could teach you a thing or two about life. Funny thing is, I got myself into a spontaneous research session because I had so many lapses and questions in mind!
Last July, I went on a Sunday museum trip with some of my Hive PH friends, and seeing the Splendor exhibit is at the top of my priorities. Entitled "Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero," the exhibit features the Holy Grail of Philippine Art: [1] Juan Luna's Hymen, O Hyménée!, also known as Boda Romana (Roman Wedding). It hasn't been seen by the public since 1899 but now we have the chance to see it thanks to Jaime Ponce de Leon's acquisition of the painting.
Luna's work, and the rest of Splendor, give a glimpse of his artistic process and how his art and influence can still move people up to this day.
Hyme What Now?
You must've chuckled at the painting's name but no, it has nothing to do with the female body part! The title Hymen, O Hyménée! refers to Catallus' wedding poem which beckons for Hymenaeus (Hymen), the Greek god of marriage, to come through and be present for every wedding. His absence meant disaster for the newlyweds. The hymenaeus is chanted while the couple is headed to the groom's home.[2] Luna's Hyménée depicts a Roman bridal procession and Catallus 62 is quite a befitting reference.
A reading of Catullus 62 is on repeat in one of the sections in Splendor. It creeped me out but ever since I looked it up on YouTube, it's not so bad now. The poem is a back-and-forth between the male and female voices and discusses how relationships were for young men and women. Its ending makes me squint in distaste as the men state that women's virginities aren't theirs. Two-thirds belong to their parents and it becomes their husband's once they give off their daughter's hand in marriage.
| uirginitas non tota tua est, ex parte parentum est, | Your maidenhead is not all your own; partly it belongs to your parents, |
| tertia pars patrest, pars est data tertia matri, | a third part is given to your father, a third part to your mother, |
| tertia sola tua est: noli pugnare duobus, | only a third is yours; do not contend with two, |
| qui genero suo iura simul cum dote dederunt. | who have given their rights to their son-in-law together with the dowry. |
Study Well, Study Hard.
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Splendor had numerous displays of newspaper clips, and more importantly, character studies for Hyménée. Sometimes, I felt like I was moving too slowly for my friends as I was taking in Luna's repetitive study. From simple lines to complicated light values, looking at them reminded me that I shouldn't be afraid of doing one thing over and over again. It's how masterpieces like Hyménée are created after all.
As I went through and around them, I noticed something odd - one piece of work was upside down and I wondered if it was a mistake. Baffled, I approached the closest staff member I could and pointed at it. Was that displayed incorrectly? Turns out Ensueños de Amor and one of the studies for Hyménée are painted on a single piece of wood! I must be living under a rock to not realize that.
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Pieces of information about Hyménée could also be read on the walls of the exhibit and one of those mention that Luna started working on it during his 1886 honeymoon with Paz Pardo de Tavera. In a way, we could say that Hyménée revolves around Luna's hopefulness for a happily wedded life and a submissive, happy wife (symbolized by the tortoise on the floor).
Seeing Hyménée in person and for the first time, was awe-inspiring yet slightly disappointing but this was all due to external factors! There was a small crowd in the room where it was displayed and I got a tad bit too focused on trying to dodge everyone. Another was that the viewing distance was still a bit too far. If only I could inch a little more closer to it, I would have been able to maximize the enjoyment I could get!
There's also this well-designed room that has Juan Luna's bust (temporarily loaned from the UST Museum) and a quote from Dr. Jose Rizal's toasting speech for Luna and Felix Hidalgo.
genius bursts forth everywhere, is like light and air - the patrimony of all;
cosmopolitan as space, as life as God.
Another reminder that we Filipinos can also be great in our ways and bring pride and honor to the country. Very patriotic, I know. That's Rizal and the Illustrados were shaking things up in Europe.
There was also a video presentation at the end of the exhibit but I missed a huge chunk of it from all the pondering I was doing. There's also a hall presenting books, notebooks, posters, and postcards of Hyménée for sale. I'm certainly adding the hardbound book to my wishlist!
Splendor is presented by Ayala Museum with the cooperation of Leon Gallery. Exhibit runs from June 12, 2023, until December 30, 2023.
Visiting Splendor was just one of the things I did during that weekend. I also checked out the Mindscapes exhibit as a detour before heading home!
Can't wait to tell you more but hey, thanks for hanging out. Tell me if these tidbits of history caught your attention!
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