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Marcel Antonio Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1965 -

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        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Oct. 26, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱30,000 - ₱39,000

          Untitled signed (lower left) mixed media on paper 15 1/2” x 11 1/2” (39 cm x 29 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Oct. 26, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱15,000 - ₱19,500

          Pearl signed (lower left); dated 2001 pencil and pastel on paper 15 1/2” x 12” (40 cm x 30 cm) Accompanied by a certificate issued by The Drawing Room and signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Oct. 26, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

          Readers signed (lower right) oil on canvas 18" x 12" (46 cm x 30 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Oct. 26, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱160,000 - ₱208,000

          The Feast signed (lower right and verso) dated 1999 (verso) oil on canvas 36" x 24" (91 cm x 61 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot   Marcel Antonio’s works belong to the impressive category of non-literary tradition of storytelling. With a body of work that teems of magical realism and quirky contemporary mythologies, it only takes one cursory look at his work to see his predisposition for introspective and human-centered storytelling. With The Feast and Readers, Marcel’s love for telling stories is highly evident. Both canvases are full of humans and their interesting lives – be it with their books propped open in their hands or the fish drawn on the canvas, Marcel’s works invite further exploration and a search for the hidden truth. In these works, Marcel’s strength is on full display. Through his overflowing canvas imbued with the very essence of the human spirit, it is inevitable that he would create the life story of one person. He poses interesting and introspective questions, leaving the answers up to the readers and making the process of the analysis just as interesting as the magnificent end product he has created. (Hannah Valiente)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - The Little Prince
          Sep. 14, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - The Little Prince

          Est: ₱180,000 - ₱234,000

          The Little Prince signed and dated 2009 (lower right) acrylic on canvas 38” x 24” (97 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot WRITE UP I n pursuit of an artistic career in the 1980s, Marcel Antonio had ceased his studies at the UP College of Fine Arts soon after his debut solo exhibition. Since then, Antonio would go on to carve himself a niche in the contemporary Manila gallery scene for his dreamlike post-expressionist works. While his paintings evoke hints of the playfully figurative modernist styles, there is also a deeply postmodern and magical realist charge in the themes of myth and reality that the artist often takes on. In Marcel Antonio’s The Little Prince, one gleans a subdued sense of fancy. A seated young boy holds a small toy plane in one hand in a room that seems to be a sala. He wears a neutrally youthful expression, eyes carrying a subtle wonder in them, matched within the composition only by the allure of the pink rose that sits beside him. The view behind the young man draws the eye next amongst the warm reds and oranges of the room with its mysterious deep blue, defining only the shapes of a fox, a baobab tree, and a glimmer in the sky. Lastly and curiously, a snake slithers in the shade of the boy’s chair, its presence suspicious and unassuming. Each of these references narrative elements from French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel of the same name, in which the narrator, a pilot whose plane had crashed into the Sahara, meets the little prince, a young boy who struggled to grasp the dull and obsessively pragmatic world of adults and lamented the love he had for a rose who had taken advantage of his kindness. In a cosmos that seemed to be too fixated on its own worldly interests, the little prince is wondrously ruminative, but also lonely. Antonio’s depiction of The Little Prince seems to capture this exact feeling in the quiet tensions at play in his painting: in between solid warmths and mystic blues, in the boy’s expression that teeters somewhere between solemnity and whimsy, in between objects fancy and mundane, and in between what seems real and what seems not. (Pie Tiausas)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Echoes of the Divine Messenger
          Sep. 14, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Echoes of the Divine Messenger

          Est: ₱240,000 - ₱312,000

          Echoes of the Divine Messenger signed (lower right) acrylic on canvas 36” x 48” (91 cm x 122 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot WRITE UP While known for drawing inspiration from myths, folktales, and classical works of fantasy literature, Marcel Antonio is also known for the recurring pseudo- narratives in his body of works. A curious aspect of Antonio’s paintings, these pseudo-narratives become testaments to the artist’s masterfully distinct manner of post-expressionism. Visibly apparent in this painting, the resulting image on Antonio’s canvas is often peculiar, nevertheless quaint and dreamy with its collage-like render of subjects in disorientingly varying perspectives, solemn facial expressions, as well as odd distortions of spaces and bodies. Although the composition seemingly leads towards a narrative, this hint of a plot refuses to pin itself down, always floating out clue-like elements in the form of symbols and seemingly cryptic objects. In other words, any sense of a narrative is always led astray by these spontaneous figures that emerge and break any sense of continuity in the painting. Such is exactly the charm of Marcel Antonio’s works: that these pseudo-narratives are akin to the liminal spaces of a dream, spontaneously charting their course in a stream of personal experiences, memory, collective imagination, and the sea of the unconscious. (Pie Tiausas)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Jul. 27, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

          Untitled signed (lower left) mixed media on paper 15 1/2” x 11 1/2” (39 cm x 29 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 27, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

          Teddy signed and dated 2011 (lower left) mixed media on paper 24" x 18" (61 cm x 46 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Jul. 27, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱60,000 - ₱78,000

          The Ladder signed and dated 2014 (lower right) acrylic on canvas 16” x 20” (41 cm x 51 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Blank Canvas
          Jun. 08, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Blank Canvas

          Est: ₱180,000 - ₱234,000

          The Blank Canvas signed (lower right) dated 2006 (verso) oil on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot “Blue-funk erotica” is how Filipino poet, art critic, and painter V.I.S. de Veyra described the works of Marcel Antonio. Published in a 2010 blog essay, de Veyra categorized “blue-funk erotica” as a subtle sort of erotica, more melancholic than carnal with only a hint of erotic imagining. Though the lot in hand preceded the term by four years, Antonio's The Blank Canvas already showed the foundation of the style that de Veyra coined. The Blank Canvas depicts a woman staring at herself in a handheld mirror with a painter in the background waiting for her by the easel. The subtle sensuality suggested by the style shows itself as the woman flashes a sliver of thigh when she crosses her leg. There is nothing explicitly erotic about the piece but it becomes a springboard for the thought, the slight drama and suspense of it all propelling the piece forward. The Blank Canvas continued upon Antonio’s predilection for narrative paintings – understated as it may be, The Blank Canvas manages to tell a story so subtle with its drama. (Hannah Valiente)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Amaryllis
          Jun. 08, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Amaryllis

          Est: ₱180,000 - ₱234,000

          Amaryllis signed (lower right) dated 2002 (verso) oil on canvas 40" x 30" (102 cm x 76 cm León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot The amaryllis flower traditionally symbolizes the noble values of strength and determination amid adversities. In etymological terms, the word “amaryllis” comes from the Greek verb “amarýssō,” which means “[to] sparkle” or “[to] shine.” In terms of the color of the flower, a red amaryllis represents (as always) romantic love, while a pink one captures friendship and platonic love. There are also connotations of child-like innocence and naivety intertwined with the flower’s delicate petals. In Marcel Antonio’s eponymous 2002 work, the artist uses the amaryllis as a metaphor for both yearning and striving. In this work, Antonio depicts a man seemingly wanting to court and woo a prospect from afar. He is holding a pink amaryllis flower, all the while exuding piercing gazes from squinting yet glimmering eyes. Is he waiting for the right time and the most appropriate of all moments to resolutely turn a pink amaryllis into a red one, or in short, to metamorphose and elevate platonic love into romantic love? Or is it the downhearted way around? Had he been rejected and left languishing in the throes of unrequited love and intimate affections, the reason why his eyes send forth deep melancholia? As always, Marcel Antonio shows he is a master of open-ended, cliffhanger narratives. (Adrian Maranan)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - Muses Watch Me Dance
          Jun. 08, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - Muses Watch Me Dance

          Est: ₱380,000 - ₱494,000

          Muses Watch Me Dance signed (lower right) dated 2006 (verso) oil on canvas 60" x 48" (152 cm x 122 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot PROVENANCE Q Gallery A master of expressionism in the local art scene, Marcel Antonio’s works follow a distinct narrative or pseudo- narrative accounts influenced by modernism and 1980s postmodernism. With works weaving myth and reality into fantastical pieces that told stories, his oeuvre caught the eyes of Manila's connoisseurs who had gained him a steady market. This thread of narrative is evident in his 2006 Muses Watch Me Dance. Here, Antonio depicts four women in vibrant and unusual colors; of the four, three sit on the ground, glancing at the remaining woman who dances around, the curves of her body emphasized as she sways to imaginary music. The artist’s fabular inclinations are on display as he evokes the Greek Muses in this work, showcasing the deep sense of play apparent in his works that continues to draw in collectors for years to come. (Hannah Valiente)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Apr. 20, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱150,000 - ₱195,000

          Who Is To Know signed (lower left) acrylic and oil on canvas 29 1/2" x 23 1/2" (75 cm x 60 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jan. 20, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          Lady Luck signed (lower left) oil on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) Accompanied by a certificate issued by Primo Gallery and signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jan. 20, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

          Secret Love signed (lower left) oil and acrylic on canvas 24" x 20" (61 cm x 51 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jan. 20, 2024

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          The Waiting Game signed (lower right) oil, acrylic on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) Leon Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - Waiting for the Gingerbread Men
          Dec. 02, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965) - Waiting for the Gingerbread Men

          Est: ₱800,000 - ₱1,040,000

          Waiting for the Gingerbread Men signed and dated 2011 (lower right) acrylic on canvas 48” x 96” (122 cm x 244 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot EXHIBITED: Water Dragon Gallery, Yuchengco Museum, The Romantic Lie: Desire, Ennui, Anxiety, Makati City, February 6 - 25, 2012 LITERATURE: Osental, Duffie Hufana. “The Nature of Desire.” Art+ Magazine (formerly Contemporary Art Philippines), 2011. Full-color illustration on page 58 and painting description on page 57. WRITE UP

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Oct. 21, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱55,000 - ₱71,500

          Boy with Bicycle signed and dated 2023 (lower right and verso) acrylic on canvas 12” x 9” (30 cm x 23 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1963)
          Oct. 21, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b.1963)

          Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

          Relief 2004 signed (lower left) pastel on paper 25” x 19 1/2” (64 cm x 49 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b.1965)
          Oct. 21, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b.1965)

          Est: ₱20,000 - ₱26,000

          Figuras handsigned and dated 1990 (bottom) graphite on paper 11” x 8” (28 cm x 20 cm) Accompanied by a certificate issued by the artist’s father on the artist’s behalf confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Nine Muses
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Nine Muses

          Est: ₱800,000 - ₱1,040,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) The Nine Muses signed (lower right) ca. 2000 acrylic on canvas 48" x 96" (122 cm x 244 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot The works of Marcel Antonio are windows to the inner world of the Self, often indulged in tranquil images of revelry. It is a curious quality of Antonio's paintings how—despite all passion and feeling becoming subdued by a combination of hazy palettes and statuesque figures, one cannot deny the sense of desire that slips into the surface of the canvas. Each painting is rendered an act of indulgence, albeit not of the passionate, fiery kind. Instead, Marcel Antonio’s visual indulgence is dreamlike and deeply psychological, the unconscious slipping momentarily into the conscious. In Man and His Symbols, Carl Jung writes of the anima as the “personification of all feminine psychological tendencies” that includes all feeling, intuition, and impulse. As an archetype, the anima is often visualized as a woman who serves as one’s guide towards a deeper and higher plane of spirituality. Thus, encounters with woman figures such as the priestess, the witch, or bewitching sirens and lorelei—whether in dreams or not—is indicative of the state of one’s feelings, desires, and emotional relations. Usually taking the form of a fantastical or supernatural being, the anima is essentially “of an-other world” and is thus associated with an inherent creativity that seems to come naturally from a distant elsewhere. In this work by Marcel Antonio, we find such an encounter in the serene scene of revelry he depicts. The linear composition is reminiscent of a choir on stage, as if a performance intended to lure the audience into its dreamlike world, not unlike how sirens enchant sailors in tales of the folk. While the painting may be taken as a projection of the artist’s inner world onto the canvas, it becomes a spiritual encounter with anima for the viewer as well. As it lures the audience with its performance, it conveys a message of the Self reminding the viewer to get in touch with one’s feminine creative impulses. The nymph-like maidens are thus not to be taken as mere muses to admire for the viewer. Instead, they are the culmination of the creative spirit itself, and one becomes stagnant by leaving dormant the inner femininity that lies within the psyche. With Antonio’s knack for painting mythologies of the Self, such is perhaps a wisdom that the artist himself knows best: that art is an indulgence drawing from a deep and endless well of creative feminine spirit. (Pie Tiausas)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - To The Fairest
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - To The Fairest

          Est: ₱250,000 - ₱325,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) To The Fairest signed (lower left) acrylic on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Marcel Antonio, an accomplished Filipino contemporary painter, has gained recognition from critics for his narrative and pseudo-narrative figurative artwork rendered in oil and acrylic mediums. Widely acknowledged for his significant contributions to the country's art scene, Antonio's masterpieces have garnered both local and international acclaim, often selling out during exhibitions. His prominence is further affirmed by his displays in esteemed art galleries across Manila and in global cities such as Berlin, Australia, and Singapore. In this particular piece Antonio references the Judgement of Paris; a pivotal part of Homer's Iliad. The tale begins with a wedding feast on Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited to the celebration, which angered her. In retaliation, she threw a golden apple into the midst of the festivities. This apple was inscribed with the words "For the Fairest," which immediately sparked a rivalry among the goddesses, each claiming the title of the fairest. Unable to settle the dispute themselves, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite turned to a mortal named Paris, the prince of Troy, to judge who was the most beautiful. In return for his judgment, each goddess promised him a reward. Hera offered him power and rulership, Athena offered him wisdom and skill in warfare, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris chose Aphrodite as the winner, swayed by her promise of the love of Helen, who was considered the most beautiful mortal woman. The catch was that Helen was already married to King Menelaus of Sparta. Paris' abduction of Helen to Troy set off a chain of events that eventually led to the Trojan War, a legendary conflict between the city of Troy and the Greek forces. This piece titled the fairest echoes Homer's intention as a symbolic tale highlighting the power struggles, jealousies, and consequences that arise from vanity and the pursuit of beauty. (Jed Daya)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Censors
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Censors

          Est: ₱300,000 - ₱390,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) The Censors signed and dated 2014 (lower right) acrylic on canvas 40" x 30" (102 cm x 76 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lo Making its debut at the ManilArt fair in 2014, the lot at hand is a work by Marcel Antonio shown at the international group exhibition entitled ‘Endangered Visions’ curated by Cabanatuan-based artist Gromyko Semper. In his exhibition notes, Semper describes the group show as such: “Endangered Visions aims to invigorate art with the unique, the rare, and the original: exploring the innermost exotic, mystical and magical recesses of the mind… seeks to counterbalance an art world driven by a rapacious market with something more contemplative, subtle and challenging.” In this work called The Censors, Marcel Antonio presents a dreamlike eccentricity typical of his paintings, but curiously composes the scene with a rigid austerity. Gone are the soft whimsical blues and lethargically blissful faces, now replaced by dark austerely muted hues as well as starker and grim-looking expressions. With all elements arranged in a labyrinthine composition, Antonio maintains the eccentric character of his works, but instead of typically reveling in its bizarre other-ness, the image arrests its own eccentricity—or in other words, it ‘endangers’ it. The visual effect is thus a sense of trapped indulgence within the odd labyrinth of the artist’s own making. Antonio’s paintings are usually situated in a space of fantastic in-between, and the same is true for this work. In The Censors, however, Antonio depicts such a space as endangered, seemingly caught in between figures of indulgence and authority as the bizarre struggles to come to its fullest. (Pie Tiausas)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Orpheus and Eurydice
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Orpheus and Eurydice

          Est: ₱300,000 - ₱390,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Orpheus and Eurydice signed (lower left and verso) acrylic on canvas 30" x 40" (76 cm x 102 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Marcel Antonio’s Orpheus and Eurydice is a visual retelling of the enduring Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, two lovers whose romantic intimacy and warm tenderness were cut short by a tragic demise. Orpheus was said to be the son of the muse Calliope and Apollo, the god of poetry, music, dance, the sun, healing, and prophecy, among others. He was endowed with the superhuman gift of music that humans and even gods and beasts are enraptured by his mesmerizing melodies and spellbinding singing. Apollo, the originator of string music, gave him his first lyre, the instrument attributed to the god. It was on one occasion of humans and beasts that Orpheus was struck by the enchanting beauty of the nymph Eurydice, who had also been ravished by the demigod’s voice. It was love at its most instantaneous and immaculate, and the two would eventually marry. Hymen, the god of marriage, blessed their union. However, he warned them of a looming adversity that would bear an unrelenting agony doomed to transcend beyond the afterlife. Hymen’s prophecy would eventually come to fruition, as Eurydice would succumb to death due to a snakebite. There have been several versions of this story. One version tells of Eurydice wandering the forest with her fellow nymphs, while the other narrates of the shepherdgod Aristaeus’ insatiable lust over Eurydice and how he chased her, eventually leading to the woman’s death after accidentally stepping on a nest of poisonous snakes. Eurydice’s death struck Orpheus with an unforgiving grief. Accompanied by his lyre, Orpheus’ songs of lamentation became haunting cries; everything in the world—living or not, mortals and gods—was stirred by his sorrow. Orpheus then decided to go into the underworld. His dangerous descent into the realm of the dead was aided by his charming music and the guidance and protection of Apollo and the other gods. He encountered the souls of the dead and managed to enter the gates of the underworld, guarded by the vicious three-headed dog Cerberus. Orpheus presented himself to Hades and his wife, Persephone. As he poignantly played his lyre and sang out his profound sorrow, Orpheus desperately pleaded for his wife to be brought back to the world of the living. Overwhelmed with condolence and compassion, Hades agreed, but under one condition: Orpheus must walk ahead of Eurydice as they pass through the dreadful domain of the dead and must not in any way attempt to look back at his wife until she had entirely left the underworld. Orpheus then began to embark on what he deemed a smooth-sailing task. Throughout their journey, Orpheus was imbued with a sense of calm; he did not dare to look back at Eurydice. But as soon as the light of hope emanating from the land of the living eventually dawned upon them, a blazing excitement pervaded Orpheus. He turned around to fervently embrace his beloved Eurydice, not realizing she was still in the ghastly abyss of the nether regions. In the blink of an eye, Eurydice was condemned to eternity in the feral domain of the unforgiving Hades. (Adrian Maranan)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Echo
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Echo

          Est: ₱200,000 - ₱260,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Echo signed (lower right and verso) dated 2001 alkyd on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Tableaux of humanity responding to various stimuli, whether from external or internal forces, have always played the protagonist in the grand theater that is Marcel Antonio’s canvas. There always exists a Rembrandt-ian spectacle of different genres—ranging from drama, melodrama, farce, erotica, and comedy, among others— that underscores the significance of emotional depth within the subject and, thus, stimulates the viewer’s inherent ability to harness their unbridled flow of impressions, perception, and understanding. Antonio injects method acting into his subjects, imbuing them with a sheer eccentricity that makes a single work stand out from the rest. In this piece titled Echo, Antonio depicts an apprehensive woman; her eyes bear that piercing gaze that seemingly breaks the fourth wall separating the viewer from the subject. A ghostly figure of a woman clad in her nightwear and uncannily resembling the central figure suddenly pops out at the window, resulting in the latter’s uneasiness. In a work that seems to blur the line between fantasy and reality, Antonio spurs conversations surrounding specters of the past coming back to haunt or even burden the (perceived) reality of the present. A profusion of diverse conflicts can be discerned through this painting, many of which are reminiscent of Erik Erikson’s “Theory of Psychosocial Development”: identity and confusion, intimacy and isolation, dependence and independence, regrets and accomplishments, stagnation and progress, and so on. Therefore, we see a dream-like portal into the past, where we can go frantic and agitated or rectify, reforge, and renew. (Adrian Maranan)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Citrus Tree
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - The Citrus Tree

          Est: ₱200,000 - ₱260,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) The Citrus Tree signed (lower right) dated 2002 alkyd and acrylic on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Most of the time, when observing a Marcel Antonio painting, one would find themselves immersed in contemplation, meticulously searching the canvas for details that could answer the simple question: what is happening? The Citrus Tree is among the artist’s oeuvres that can make a viewer scratch their head or stroke their chin. A lot is going on in the piece at hand, a woman is unclothed, she is in the middle of something that has to do with cards, a cat stares at her, and, if not for the title, we might fail to notice that there is a citrus tree outside the window. Unlike the muse in the nude, the playing cards, and her feline friend, the citrus tree does not seem to demand much attention. However, for it to be the main subject of the painting, there must be something that the artist hopes for its audience to unravel. For this, an old tale comes to mind. In the Bible, there was a tree whose fruits bear the knowledge of good and evil. God forbade Adam and Eve to consume the fruits of that tree, but Eve was deceived by the devil to take a bite, inviting Adam to do as well. The two gained knowledge, but lost their innocence. As punishment, they were exiled from Eden. The tree and the fruit were never identified in the biblical story, but other than the apple being its most popular depiction in art, some also believe it was a citrus tree. Then, could this be the reason why the woman is staring at it? Is the female figure in this painting Eve? Has she acquired the knowledge to be able to play cards? Is the cat there to emphasize the contrast between animals and humans? And, if this is all true, how did the faint presence of a citrus tree affect her? Antonio is a painter as well as a storyteller, as deemed by his artworks’ audience, even though he admits to not always lending his paintings a story to tell. “In hindsight, yes, maybe,” he said in an article from Artes de las Filipinas. (Isabella Romarate)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Whispering Winds
          Sep. 09, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Whispering Winds

          Est: ₱260,000 - ₱338,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Whispering Winds ca. 2000 signed (lower left) oil on canvas 36" x 24" (91 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Marcel Antonio's works situate themselves in the inbetween of things—between mind and matter, reality and illusion. In contrast to the collective activity of folk subjects in the works of his parents Norma Belleza and Angelito Antonio, Marcel Antonio is driven towards introspections on the psyche, or reflections of an inner "folklore," if you will. The figures in Antonio’s works are curious, often bearing stone-like faces that wear eerily beguiling expressions, as in the pair rendered in this piece. There is an enchanting quality to the textured use of dreamy blues to paint shadows on the moon-bathed skin of lovers, a stark contrast to the stylized distortion of folk figures we see in Norma Belleza and Angelito Antonio’s often festively extroverted works. In Marcel Antonio’s pieces, we instead see an introverted softness, dream-like and sensual—and always at the same time surreal as some things appear poetically out of place. If his works strike the viewer with a sense of something being just a little off or odd, then perhaps that is simply the work of Antonio’s sleight of hand, momentarily jarring the viewer’s reality with what is unreal. Carl Jung writes of dreams as impartial and spontaneous products of the inner psyche, the unconscious slipping momentarily into one's consciousness. If this is so, then perhaps the illusory worlds Marcel Antonio conjures are just a little more than what they appear: the truth of reality itself, a proof of the living human spirit, just as it is. (Pie Tiausas)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

          a. Untitled signed (lower left) acrylic on paper 15 3/4” x 12 1/2” (39 cm x 31 cm) b. Untitled signed (lower left) acrylic on paper 15 3/4” x 12 1/2” (39 cm x 31 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          a. White signed (lower right); dated 2001 conte crayon & charcoal on paper 15” x 11 1/2” (38 cm x 29 cm) b. Untitled signed (lower left); dated 2001 charcoal, pastel & oil on figuerras paper 13” x 9 1/2” (33 cm x 24 cm) c. Pearl signed (lower right); dated 2001 graphite & pastel on paper 15” x 11 1/2” (38 cm x 29 cm) Each piece is accompanied by a certificate issued by The Drawing Room and signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱180,000 - ₱234,000

          Letter signed (lower right) and dated 2002 (verso) oil on canvas 24” x 20” (61 cm x 51 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱35,000 - ₱45,500

          First Day signed and dated 1990 (lower left and verso) oil on canvas 19 1/2” x 12” (49 cm x 30 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

          Bantsama signed (lower left) pastel on paper 24” x 19” (61 cm x 48 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱200,000 - ₱260,000

          The Waterfall signed (lower right) dated 2019 acrylic on canvas 30” x 24” (76 cm x 61 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jul. 29, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱250,000 - ₱325,000

          Anero I signed (lower right and verso) oil and acrylic on canvas 36” x 36” (91 cm x 91 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jun. 17, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱160,000 - ₱208,000

          Fleeting Moments signed (lower right) acrylic on canvas 24" x 20" (61 cm x 51 cm) PROVENANCE Private Collection, Manila In this work titled Fleeting Moments, Marcel Antonio depicts a solemn scene. We see two women, one in a seemingly reflective state and the other acting like a companion. There is an interesting juxtaposition in the background: a caged bird, symbolizing repression, and a man riding a boat, about to embark on a likely journey towards freedom. Antonio paints a moving image of finding that elusive path towards autonomy and the honing of one’s individual pursuits. The pensive woman represents all of us who are in struggle with coming to terms with the contradictions of living and being. The companion alludes to our inner selves, from which we can find a sense of profound contemplation, examination, and deliberation of our ideas, needs, and wants. Although this process may take longer than we think, it becomes a fleeting moment once we have come to that full realization of the harmony and unity of all things, be it in our consciousness or subconsciousness. Thus, the work at hand is Antonio’s creative exercise on freeing all that is suppressed in our psyches. (A.M.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jun. 17, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱180,000 - ₱234,000

          Fruit Bowl signed (lower right) dated 2002 alkyd on canvas 30" x 24" (76 cm x 61 cm) PROVENANCE Private Collection, Manila Marcel Antonio is the son of renowned painters Angelito Antonio and Norma Belleza. He was encouraged to do art at a young age, saying, “it was like second nature for me.” For that, he was regarded as one of the most promising young artists in the Philippines. Even though he was still a student at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, he was able to launch a solo show and thereafter dropped out of the college to continue producing collections of his pseudo-narrative figurative paintings. From then to this day, Marcel’s works remain popular among collectors in the Manila art market. However, although the artist was born into a creative household, Marcel attributes his skill to the metamorphosis of his art style. He believes that art is nurtured. From an interview with Artes de las Filipinas, he said: “A lot of people have this mistaken notion that art is equated with having talent. I think art can be taught.” He might have grown up in an artistic environment as a child, but he actually thought of painting as a play. For him, it was a play with a purpose. “It was really fun,” Marcel recalled. “It still is fun.” (P.I.R.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1963)
          Jun. 17, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1963)

          Est: ₱400,000 - ₱520,000

          The Falling Star signed and dated 2014 (lower right) acrylic on canvas 42" x 54" (107 cm x 137 cm) PROVENANCE Private Collection, Makati City A Marcel Antonio oeuvre can pique the interest of its beholder with the stories it unfolds on the canvas. The artist is well-noted and admired for his mysterious themes and magic realism, even utilizing fabular images that combine myth with reality. His art often draws inspiration from contemporary mythologies, articulately stressing that his concept goes beyond the common Greek and Roman notion. Marcel’s paintings simply tell that the artist was inspired by the stories he read, heard, and seen – as observed in The Falling Star. There is a historical film said to have surrealist elements that bear the same name as this painting, Lluis Minarro’s “Falling Star.” For the most part, it is about the brief reign of Amadeo of Savoy as king of Spain. However, the Cineuropa synopsis adds, “confined to the safety of life within the palace walls, the lonely and frustrated King and his servants succumb to playful adventures which focus on love and pleasure.” This acrylic piece is dated 2014. In that year, Marcel unveiled a collection of paintings imbued with symbolic meanings at his exhibit titled “The Mustard Seed.” (P.I.R.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Jun. 17, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱400,000 - ₱520,000

          Lupus in Fabula signed (lower right) acrylic on canvas 36" x 48" (91 cm x 122 cm) PROVENANCE: León Gallery, The Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2021, Makati City, 5 June 2021, Lot 37 In contrast to the subject matter of his parents, Angelito Antonio and Norma Belleza, Marcel Antonio’s body of work is influenced by modernism and 1980s postmodernism and contains themes of narrative and pseudo-narrative figurative art that can be likened to magical realism. The works of Antonio are characterized by having comprehensible expressionism with themes imbued in mystery. He employs images that juxtapose fictitious elements against a backdrop of realism. Lupus in Fabula, literally “the wolf in the story,” is a proverb used when a certain person speaks of someone or something and they or it suddenly appears, almost as if that person was summoning them. Antonio perfectly captures the proverb in this particular work, creatively encapsulating a visual representation of it and rendering it through his distinctive style. Amid her trance and subliminal depths of her mind, the woman seems to demand the presence of a certain man who immediately brings his existence unbeknownst to the one who summoned him. This represents a melancholic yearning for the cravings of the flesh resulting from social alienation. Employing his “blue funk erotica,” a subtle sort of fetishism that borders on the drama of despondency and pensive sadness is evoked by Antonio, instead of relying on sensual eroticism as a source of carnal passion. (A.M.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Nude Studyb. Two Figures
          Apr. 22, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Nude Studyb. Two Figures

          Est: ₱15,000 - ₱19,500

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Nude Studyb. Two Figures a) signed and dated 1990 (lower right)b) signed and dated 2020 (lower right) a) charcoal on paperb) graphite on paper a) 10 1/2” x 8 1/2” (26 cm x 21 cm)b) 10 1/2” x 8” (26 cm x 20 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artistconfirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Still Lifeb. Blue Bambinac. Flower Undone
          Apr. 22, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Still Lifeb. Blue Bambinac. Flower Undone

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) a. Still Lifeb. Blue Bambinac. Flower Undone a) signed (lower left), year 2000b) signed (lower right), year 2000c) signed and dated 2001 (lower right) a) pastel and oil on figueras paperb) conte crayon & charcoal on paperc) conte crayon & charcoal on paper a) 13” x 9 1/2” (33 cm x 24 cm)b) 16” x 12 3/4” (41 cm x 33 cm)c) 16” x 12 3/4” (41 cm x 33 cm) Each piece is accompanied by a certificate issuedby the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) History of the World wasWritten in the Stars
          Apr. 22, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) History of the World wasWritten in the Stars

          Est: ₱160,000 - ₱208,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) History of the World wasWritten in the Stars signed and dated 2017 (lower left)mixed media on canvas 24” x 30” (61 cm x 76 cm) Marcel Antonio explored several transitions in search of a signature art within the field of figuration, the human figuration above all. His paintings exhibit some artistic mannerisms from his artist parents, Angelito Antonio and Norma Belleza. He recalled in an article, “I remember the times when my father would teach me how to draw a muscled man. I guess, my passion for figures and storytelling comes from that.” For the piece titled Menage a Trois, Marcel was inspired by the French phrase that means a “household of three.” In other words, a polyamorous relationship. As seen in the canvas, a couple is sitting on a chair and below them, beside the man, is another woman. The women are both lovers of the man, as he is shaded with both of their distinct hues. In an interview with Artes de las Filipinas, Marcel was asked about the adulterous acts his figures engage in. “I have no further comment,” he answered with a laugh. Although his paintings seem to tell a story, Marcel denied the thought, “in hindsight, yes, maybe. Nowadays, I put them straight on the canvas.” On the other hand, the second lot is titled Lupus in Fabula. From Latin, it means “the wolf in the story” and can be interpreted as “speak of the wolf, and he shall come.” The proverbial expression came from “Adelphoe” written by Roman playwright Terence. When Marcel paints, he paints it for people who can appreciate a work of art, the ones who are “sophisticated enough to understand a painting in itself without having the artist to explain what it’s about.” (P.I.R.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Menage a Trois
          Apr. 22, 2023

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Menage a Trois

          Est: ₱140,000 - ₱182,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Menage a Trois signed (lower left); signedand dated 1999 (verso) oil and acrylic on canvas 24” x 30” (61 cm x 76 cm) Marcel Antonio explored several transitions in search of a signature art within the field of figuration, the human figuration above all. His paintings exhibit some artistic mannerisms from his artist parents, Angelito Antonio and Norma Belleza. He recalled in an article, “I remember the times when my father would teach me how to draw a muscled man. I guess, my passion for figures and storytelling comes from that.” For the piece titled Menage a Trois, Marcel was inspired by the French phrase that means a “household of three.” In other words, a polyamorous relationship. As seen in the canvas, a couple is sitting on a chair and below them, beside the man, is another woman. The women are both lovers of the man, as he is shaded with both of their distinct hues. In an interview with Artes de las Filipinas, Marcel was asked about the adulterous acts his figures engage in. “I have no further comment,” he answered with a laugh. Although his paintings seem to tell a story, Marcel denied the thought, “in hindsight, yes, maybe. Nowadays, I put them straight on the canvas.” On the other hand, the second lot is titled Lupus in Fabula. From Latin, it means “the wolf in the story” and can be interpreted as “speak of the wolf, and he shall come.” The proverbial expression came from “Adelphoe” written by Roman playwright Terence. When Marcel paints, he paints it for people who can appreciate a work of art, the ones who are “sophisticated enough to understand a painting in itself without having the artist to explain what it’s about.” (P.I.R.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Lover's Gaze
          Dec. 03, 2022

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Lover's Gaze

          Est: ₱300,000 - ₱390,000

          Lover's Gaze signed (lower right) and dated 2001 (verso) oil on canvas 40" x 60" (102 cm x 152 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Accompanied by a pamphlet (year 2002) published by the Jasmine Fine Arts Gallery of Singapore entitled 'Marchen.' This pamphlet features several paintings similar to this lot done by the artist, Marcel Antonio, during the years 2000 to 2002 PROVENANCE: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner The vividly illustrated works of Marcel Antonio are both captivating and mysterious as they lure the viewer into a world of dreams and nostalgia. His use of color, texture, and symbolism leaves one with a profound and irrefutable sense of wonder and longing. In this piece titled Lover’s Gaze, the audience is drawn towards the gaze of Marcel’s central figure. The first one a man who is lounged on a support of some sort, holding a white cut-out of a heart; his eyes directly facing the viewer. Meanwhile to his side is a woman whose arms are raised in such a way that implies that she is shielding herself from something, or perhaps someone. Yet much like her counterpart, her eyes are still directly facing the audience; effectively reeling one in and piercing the soul. Such an approach suggests that the main focal point of the work is an imaginary mirror outside the painting; not unlike the famous Baroque painting Las Meninas by the Spanish master Diego Velasquez. Meanwhile a secondary focus is on the gaze of the woman herself, given that it seems that the figure exists within a juxtaposition of sorts. Given Antonio’s adherence to the style of Figurative Expressionism, one can assume that there is no one single interpretation of the work. Instead it is up to the viewer to unearth, discover, or even weave their own stories. (J.D.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Oct. 22, 2022

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Black Sun signed and dated 2017 (lower right & verso) oil on canvas 30” x 24” (76 cm x 61 cm)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)
          Oct. 22, 2022

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

          Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

          Playing Cards signed (lower right); dated 2001 gesso, acrylic and pastel on paper 25” x 19” (64 cm x 48 cm) Accompanied by a certificate issued by The Drawing Room and signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Othello
          Sep. 10, 2022

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) - Othello

          Est: ₱240,000 - ₱312,000

          Marcel Antonio (b. 1965) Othello signed (lower left) dated 2005 (verso) acrylic on canvas 60" x 24" (152 cm x 61 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Marcel Antonio touches on the timeless legacy of William Shakespeare's literary virtuoso, mainly focusing on a scene from his enduring tragedy 'Othello.' In that play, Shakespeare tells the story of Othello and Iago. Othello is a Moorish general in command of the Venetian army. Iago is his junior officer. He abhors Othello since the latter had promoted the much younger Cassio to the rank of chief lieutenant instead of him. The intensity of Iago's envy leads him to an irrational fit of fury. With the help of his wife, Emilia, an unknowing accomplice, and Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, Iago plans Othello's ultimate downfall. Iago misleads Othello, telling him that his wife, Desdemona, who is much younger than him, and Cassio, his loyal and most beloved captain, are in an adulterous affair. One day, Desdemona drops her handkerchief, Othello's first gift to her, which Emilia finds. At the behest of Iago, Emilia naively gives it to her husband. Iago then proceeds to Othello and uses the handkerchief as evidence of Desdemona and Cassio's romance, saying it was their token of love. Deceived, Othello makes Iago his lieutenant. Iago also persuades Othello to secretly listen to a conversation between himself and Cassio, supposedly talking about the latter's affair with Desdemona. Entrapped in an unfortunate spin of lies, Othello kills Desdemona. Fuelled by morbid jealousy, Othello denigrated himself. He believed that as an older black man, he was already dull and unappealing to his wife, a white woman. Emilia, realizing what Iago has done when Othello reveals the handkerchief as evidence of Desdemona and Cassio's affair, exposes and condemns her husband. Othello commits suicide, realizing it is too late to redeem himself and his beloved wife. (A.M.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio - Feast of Saints
          Sep. 10, 2022

          Marcel Antonio - Feast of Saints

          Est: ₱300,000 - ₱390,000

          Marcel Antonio Feast of Saints signed (lower right) dated 2004 (verso) acrylic on canvas 36" x 48" (91 cm x 122 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot The vividly illustrated works of Marcel Antonio are both captivating and mysterious as they lure the viewer into a world of dreams and nostalgia. His use of color, texture, and symbolism leaves one with a profound and irrefutable sense of wonder and longing. Now a revered mid-career Filipino artist, he continues to render humanity with a sincere exacting approach in his narrative and pseudonarrative figurative paintings. In Feast of Saints, Antonio presents us with a work that reflects the modern condition as well as a critique of the standards that once preceded it. In the piece, we see two women partaking in libations; their gestures and poses suggesting that the setting is an intimate and casual setting. In the background we see a man, topless and bare-chested, who is either on the verge of removing his garments or putting them back on. Meanwhile to the right we see a woman approaching the man in the middle; or perhaps leaving an unseen affair beyond the realm of the canvas. The artist presents us with an off-hand snapshot that attempts to capture the unhurried and genuine underpinnings of life. Far from the poised and almost sacred connotations suggested by the work’s title, Antonio seemingly posits that the essence of the human experience can be found in the spontaneous instances of our interactions. (J. D.)

          Leon Gallery
        • Marcel Antonio - T he Outer
          Sep. 10, 2022

          Marcel Antonio - T he Outer

          Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

          Marcel Antonio T he Outer signed and dated 2016 (lower right) oil on canvas 24" x 30" (61 cm x 76 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Marcel Antonio, the son of Filipino painters Angelito Antonio and Norma Belleza, was once touted as one of the most promising painters in Philippine contemporary art. Being one of the masters of Expressionism in the local art scene, he has created a remarkable collection of narrative and pseudo-narrative figurative paintings influenced by modernism and 1980s postmodernism. Critics have also regarded Antonio as one of the most notable contemporary Filipino painters, bestowing upon him a multitude of acclaim for his magnetic narratives in oil and acrylic. It would be difficult, if not superfluous, to attempt to find literal meanings to the mise-en-scene in Antonio’s canvas. A narrative that is both fantastic and redolent of whimsical and mythological tales often takes center stage in Antonio’s works. This particular piece titled The Outer seemingly blends together various aspects of social reality, with the surreal nature of Antonio’s practice. The result is a work that seemingly transcends the physical aspects of his subject-matter, and relegates to us the sublime nature of our mundane reality.

          Leon Gallery
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