LOURDES SCHOOL OF MANDALUYONG

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The Life of Federico Aguilar Alcuáz and His Works

Federico Aguilar y Alcuáz

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Contemporary Arts from the Philippine Regions

Submitted by:

Adrian Mitchell A. Galano

Submitted to:

Mr. Jonathan Quines

Submitted on:

December 6, 2019
Early Life and Education

Federico Aguilar y Alcuáz was born on June 6, 1932 to a family of 11 children (including

himself). He was the 6th child of the Aguilar family. His father, Mariano, worked as a lawyer

who also possesses a talent of playing the violin and piano. Even his siblings knew how to play

instruments. Because of his talents and inclinations of his family, Music served as Federico’s

influence. He was encouraged by his father to play the cello.

He studied in public schools during his elementary and high school years. He possesses

photographic memory which he utilized in drawing sketches. When he was a grade school

student, his teachers saw potential in him in terms of artistry. He drew portraits of his teachers

and he gave those portraits to them as gifts. When he was in college, he studied in two

universities such as San Beda College and University of the Philippines simultaneously. In the

morning, he studied in San Beda College for his Association in Arts degree. Then in the evening,

he studied in University of the Philippines for his Fine Arts Degree. During his College years, he

received instruction from professors such as Fernando Amorsolo and Guillermo Tolentino who

eventually became National Artists. He studied with Napoleon Abueva as his classmate, who

also went on to be awarded as a National Artist. Then he pursued his Law degree in Ateneo De

Manila University until his graduation in 1955.

Career

Despite graduating with a Law degree, Federico decided to pursue a 55-year career as an

artist. Prior to his graduation in Ateneo De Manila University in 1955, he competed in UP’s Art

competitions in 1953 and 1954, wherein he won 1 st place in the 1953 competition and then he
was placed 2nd in the 1954 competition. He also won 1 st place in the Annual Shell Art

Competition in 1954.

After his graduation in 1955, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave Federico a

scholarship grant, giving him the opportunity to study Academia de Bellas Artes de San

Fernando located in Madrid. Federico accepted the scholarship and went to Madrid to study in

the university. His professor saw so much artistic potential in Federico. He soon saw that

Federico needed no further training and because of this, Federico was told that he can leave the

university.

WITH fellow artists and some officers of the Direccion General de Bellas Artes in Barcelona

Federico then transferred to Barcelona. He found a studio located in 285 Aragon St. in

the fourth floor. He worked in that studio and maintained it for four decades up until 1997. He

also joined a group of fellow artists called the “La Puñalada.” Some of the members include

Jordi Aluna, Jaume Muxart, and Sergio Aragones. The group conduct social gatherings with each

other called the “tertulia” wherein they would discuss about the latest trends of the Arts scene,

societal developments, politics, and even up-to-date gossips. He also met Ute Schmitz in 1959

and married her three years later. He raised three sons with his wife.
 He competed in the Premio Moncade in 1967 and the Pintura Sant Pol del Mar in 1961

wherein he won first place in those competitions. He got second place in the Premio Vancell in

1964 and he also competed in the Prix Francisco Goya in 1958.

ARTICLE about Alcuaz in Les Artes Newspaper Barcelona, 1964

In France, he received prestigious awards as recognition or his works and his incredible

artistics talents. He received the Diploma of honor while attending the International Exhibition of

Art Libre in 1961. The French government awarded Federico the decoration of Arts, Letter, and

Sciences award and the Order of French Genius in 1964.

Federico attempted to travel to Germany. But during his travel, he got injured in a vehicle

crash in 1964. He had to go back to Manila in order to seek medical attention. Soon after his

recovery, he immediately resumed his works. He conducted exhibitions in Luz Gallery and the
National Gallery. He then traveled to Japan to conduct an exhibit in Itoh Galler. He also

conducted an exhibit in the Malacañang Palace, in France, and in Portugal.

He also traveled to New York, France, Austria, Japan, and etc. He then traveled annually

to the outskirts of Prague in Czechoslovakia from the late 1960’s up to the early 1980’s. In the

outskirts of Prague, he worked on his tapestries and he enjoyed the company of his workers. In

2007, he received the Presidential Medal of Merit Award in the Philippines for his

accomplishments and contributions to the field of Visual Arts. Then two years later, in 2009, he

was awarded the National Artist.

Works

Tres Marias Series

Dos Marias
 Tres Marias

Quatro Marias
 Cinco Marias

Nude Artworks

Seated Nude
Untitled (Female Nude)

Untitled
References for Images:

[Photograph of Federico Alcuáz] (2018). Retrieved from [Link]

Alcuaz

[WITH fellow artists and some officers of the Direccion General de Bellas Artes in Barcelona]

(n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]

%e2%80%93%e2%80%98epic-troubadour-of-the-urban-landscape%e2%80%99/

[ARTICLE about Alcuaz in Les Artes Newspaper Barcelona, 1964] (1964). Retrieved from

[Link]

%e2%80%93%e2%80%98epic-troubadour-of-the-urban-landscape%e2%80%99/

[Quatro Marias] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

alcuaz/quatro-marias-tres-marias-series-qMeXFOO6zX2XGC3Y1ITyEA2

[Untitled (Female Nude)] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

alcuaz/untitled-female-nude-c1RqyB27hQivAXUJ7nueig2

[Untitled] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

alcuaz-nude

[Cinco Marias] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

aguilar-alcuaz-nude

[Tres Marias] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

marias-Dfxc6kTQ-MgTPrdTJ_N9aA2

[Dos Marias] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

marias-tres-marias-series-1Aw6CZhkPuqmgUSerezLog2
[Seated Nude] (n.d.) Retrieved from [Link]

alcuaz/seated-nude-GvgoBD_9kzHeZcTui0bVNg2

References for information:

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]

aguilar-alcuaz/

AGUILAR ALCUAZ Un Voyage pictural en Europe A picturesque journey in Europe. (n.d.).

Retrieved from [Link]

aguilar-alcuaz-a-picturesque-journey-in-europe

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]

Alcuaz#-

Osental, D. (2012). Remembering Federico Aguilar Alcuaz –‘epic troubadour of the urban

landscape’. Retrieved from [Link]

alcuaz-%e2%80%93%e2%80%98epic-troubadour-of-the-urban-landscape%e2%80%99/

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]