Expert reveals mysteries behind Luna’s ‘The Parisian Life’

By Rey T. Arcangel, Jr.

PGIN-CMO

Artworks of the greatest Filipino painter and patriot Juan Luna continue to fascinate and mystify modern audiences with a new wave of interpretation which reveals mysteries surrounding his masterpieces.

Professor Eric Zerrudo delivers for the first time a lecture on the mysterious events surrounding Juan Luna's "Parisian Life" painting in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Juan Luna, a Master Painter and recognized as the first Filipino International Achiever, was born in Badoc on October 24, 1857. (Alaric Yanos, PGIN CMO)

Professor Eric Zerrudo, an expert on cultural heritage and museum development, and Ilocos Norte’s consultant on Heritage Conservation revisited the Juan Luna Shrine, Badoc on October 23 to hold the “Eric Zerrudo Files: A Scholar’s Account of Mysterious Events Surrounding Luna’s Arts”, a kick-off activity for Semana Ti Ar-aria Festival 2013, Ilocos Norte’s Halloween bash which discussed facts and controversies about Juan Luna and his artworks particularly on The Parisian Life.

According to Zerrudo, the painting which is an oil on canvas impressionist was owned by different people and was named with different titles before landing in the hands of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in 2002.

During 1953, the artwork was given the name of The Maid, followed by the ownership of Prof. Emmanuel Torres in 1963 where he gave the title of Un Coquette which identifies the woman in the foreground as flirtatious, and then was named as Interior d’Un Cafe which literally means “Inside the Café”.

 

Tourist visiting the Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Norte listen to a guide discussing the various interpretations of the Master Painter's "Parisian Life". Juan Luna, recognized as the first Filipino International Achiever, was born in Badoc on October 24, 1857. (Alaric Yanos, PGIN CMO)

In 2002, with the ownership of GSIS, The Parisian Life was decided to be used as the official name, which was also originally inscribed, signed and dated by Luna himself at the back of the painting where he wrote, LVNA PARIS 1982.

Zerrudo also revealed that the painting can be interpreted in three ways, by literal and popular interpretation where the lady sitting in the sofa was identified as flirt and prostitute, by tragic and biographical interpretation which discusses the personal experience of Luna with his wife who had an affair with other man, and by symbolic interpretation where Zerrudo mentioned that the woman in the painting has a "geographical likeness" to the mirror-image of the archipelago of the Philippines. 

With the third interpretation, Luna also exposed the Philippines in disturbed state during the Spanish Revolution in 1892 through the uncomfortable position and about-to-cry face of the woman. The three gentlemen in the left corner were identified as the three Filipino heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal, Juan Luna, and Ariston Baptista discussing the state of the country being under stress. The coat and hat at the couch symbolizes Western lifestyle particularly identifying the people of Spain. While the levels of beers in the table were also interpreted on how the Spaniards take advantage of the country, and the newspaper pointing the back of the woman tells how the Philippines was inspired by the French Revolution.

At the modern period, The Parisian Life continues to reveal mysteries as Zerrudo mentioned during his lecture.

In 2004, the GSIS museum featured the painting in a tour through an armoured car in the towns of Cebu, Iloilo, and Ilocos Norte where the artwork was coincidentally exhibited in the vicinity of all Juan Luna streets of the said provinces.

During the tour in Ilocos Norte, Zerrudo exposed the strange happening they have experienced when they reached the town of Badoc without knowing that they have already reached the hometown of the said Ilocano hero. The car carrying the painting eventually stopped in the road as if Luna insists to visit their ancestral home in the said town.

Before going back to Manila for the last stop of exhibit, Zerrudo and his team had the chance to see Juan Luna’s gold medal award in Sinait, the town before Badoc, Ilocos Norte, an award Luna got from the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes competition in 1884 in Madrid.

“It’s amazing and shocking that things coincide, because it also happened that the person who keeps the medal is my friend”, said Zerrudo.

At present, The Parisian Life is owned by the GSIS Museum with Zerrudo as the curator, and is currently exhibited at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.

Another truth that the modern audiences need to know about Luna’s works is the fact that the famous Spoliarium was ripped into three portions when given back to the Philippines, and was delicately restored through fiber to fiber stitches done by Zerrudo’s team.

Today, the statement written by Juan Luna in his last work, “Non Omnis Moriar” or “not all of me dies” in English translation truly makes sense. Amidst his death, his artworks live with the Filipinos of the modern days. 

IN commemorates Luna’s 156^th birth anniversary

Students from the various schools in Badoc, Ilocos Norte celebrate in songs and dances on Oct. 24, 2013 the 156th birth anniversary of Master Painter Juan Luna, recognized as the first Filipino International Achiever, who was born in this town. (Alaric Yanos, PGIN CMO)

MEANWHILE, Officials and employees of different agencies and students from different schools in Ilocos Norte gathered on October 24, 2013 in Badoc to celebrate the contributions and greatness of the first Filipino international achiever, Juan Luna.

The commemoration started with a memorial mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Badoc led by Rev. Fr. Victor F. Calma. This is followed by a flag raising ceremony and floral offerings at the Juan Luna Shrine, the ancestral home of the Luna family where some of Juan’s memorabilia and artworks are displayed.

From the shrine, a grand procession was also organized to highlight the celebration and honor the said Ilocano hero.

Juan Luna Day culminated with a program participated in by schools which rendered cultural performances, such as singing and dancing in the tune of folk songs, and short re-enactment of hero’s life at the President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports and Cultural Center in Badoc.

A pre-celebration for the birth anniversary of Luna took place on October 23, 2013 at the Juan Luna Shrine with “Eric Zerrudo Files: A scholars account of mysterious events surrounding Luna’s arts” which discussed facts and controversies about Juan Luna himself and his artworks.

The participants of the lecture comprise of students and instructors from the different schools in Ilocos Norte. (Alaric Yanos, PGIN CMO)

Juan Luna is considered as “The Greatest Filipino Painter and Patriot” known for his artworks such as “Spoliarium” which garnered a gold medal at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 in Madrid,  “The Battle of Lepanto”, “Death of Cleopatra”, and the mysterious,  “The Parisian Life”.