October 28, 2025 | 11:43am
MANILA, Philippines — Through layered acrylic and mixed-media works, Jonathan Olazo enters a conversation with Claude Monet, reimagining the Impressionist master’s devotion to light and motion through a contemporary Filipino lens.
Jonathan’s latest exhibition “Light Receptacle Café,” curated by his wife Lyn, opened last October 18 at the Alliance Française de Manille in Makati and runs through November 15.
The exhibition title itself reflects the dialogue with the French artist. “Light” alludes to Monet’s enduring fascination with luminosity, while “Receptacle Café” evokes a shared space for exchange, a meeting point for artistic ideas and reflection.
Among those deeply enamored by the artist’s latest works is art patron Rosita Lara “Otty” Lumagui, who showered praise for both Jonathan and his father Romulo, also an artist.
“Jonathan has forged his own luminous path rather than simply lingering in his father’s shadow,” Otty said. “Jonathan has a distinct voice, his art is daring and personal. His reinvention of Monet’s vision opens fresh avenues of form and perception.”
“What’s more, his creations oscillate between a vigorous masculinity and a delicate femininity, entirely dependent on the viewer’s register and interpretation,” she added.
Alliance Française de Manille executive director Olivier Dintinger reflected on his personal connection to Jonathan’s works, admitting to be very moved by the “powerful” paintings.
“They bring me back to Paris, to the Musée Marmottan, where I first admired Monet’s work. I never expected to experience this kind of homage here in the Philippines,” said Olivier.
Related: Exhibit on Monet’s prolific Venice visit debuts at Brooklyn Museum
Dr. Eric Zerrudo, executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, followed with remarks linking the exhibit to broader art history.
“The title ‘Light Receptacle Café’ reminds us of the discourse we’ve had about how our heroes encountered Impressionism in Paris in the 19th century,” he said. “Jonathan captures that same phenomenon of light and temporality.”
Eric also encouraged artistic experimentation, “Maybe he’ll explore the temporalities of space, sound, or touch. Artists challenge boundaries and show how these ideas connect to our daily realities.”
He also noted that the exhibit coincided with Museums and Galleries Month, as well as Indigenous Peoples Month, Library Month, and Archives Month.
Lyn later shared that Jonathan always challenged her with his unorthodox approach to painting.
“He loves to move from one style to another, working on different mediums simultaneously,” she said of her husband. “He gathers nuances and signs from his surroundings, from the street, from our daily life, and brings them into his paintings.”
She pointed out that Jonathan is a huge fan of French art critics and writers, citing icons like Roland Barthes and Charles Baudelaire, before the artist himself closed the reception thanking all who attended.
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