Feasting on Lao Lianben’s Tables

Lao Lianben, "Table With Soot", 20x30 inches, acrylic and graphite on canvas

Quietly and without fanfare—pretty much like his pieces— Lao Lianben exhibited his latest works at Blanc Peninsula sans any opening festivities. As always, his textured tablets, more wall sculpture than just paintings, invite quiet contemplation. This time around, Lao’s “non-colors” of black and white allude to tablescapes, settings that keep to the minimalist aesthetic that this noted abstractionist has practically patented.

Lao calls this exhibit Soot, referring to the deliberate brushes of black acrylic, graphite, or charcoal powder that appear like burnt portions on several of his canvases. Newer to my eyes are the two pieces where he collaged images of Buddha, incorporating them to appear as surprising details apparent only upon close inspection. Quite an extensive addition to his body of work, Lao has brought out 21 paintings in various sizes, from a substantial 213×213 cm (7x 7ft) to the extremely manageable 38×28 cm (15×11 inches). Seeing them arrayed on the gallery’s walls, one can’t but marvel at the timelessness of Lao’s work.

Lao Lianben’s Soot runs from 21 March to 11 April 2012 at Blanc Peninsula Manila, Peninsula Manila Hotel Arcade, Makati Avenue, Makati City. Phone (0920) 927-6436 or visit www.blanc.ph or www.facebook.com/blancgallery

Lao Lianben, "Table With Soot", 84x84 inches, acrylic and charcoal on canvas

Lao Lianben, "Ancestral Table", 15x11 inches, acrylic on canvas, "Buddha Table", 48x48 inches, acrylic and collage on canvas

Lao Lianben, "Table With Black Pear", 20x28 inches, acrylic on canvas, "Chinese Table", 46x48 inches, acrylic on canvas, "Table With 7 Soot", 20x28 inches, acrylic on canvas