Painting lost forever?!

It was the year 2001, that i presented my work for public viewing. . . and that was the first and the last time the painting was seen in public... what is was thought to be an imprint of (my) soul as an artist was taken away in view.... forever?!

Who would thought that at that time an amateur artist who dreams that his work be recognized and make it known at the opening of an art exhibit... and it was.... it was SOLD...it was sold to a woman named Shiela Solon. . . . God where is she now?!

"Pamasin" - a group exhibit by University of the Philippines - Cebu Fine Arts Students and Alumni and it was organised by the Luna Gallery (no longer existing today).. also, it was held at the former Mezanine hall (now the Duty Free area - lobby) at the Cebu Waterfront hotel in Lahug, Philippines.

As a juvenile in the Arts arena at that time, the feeling of having your painting sold at the opening of an was extremely overpowering! the exhibit can be paralleled to that of joining a auction attended by the highest echelons of society (to exaggerated!) or like an athlete running not for gold but running to beat a world record imaginably!

Until now everything was still clear to me at that time........rage?!.. no!..

As the exhibit was formally opened... i stand beside my painting trying to entertain and answers questions to whoever wants to take a glimpse of my artwork.... until, suddenly a Woman by that name stated above approached and asked information...........in anticipication of, she announced to buy the painting!... Holy Ghost!... its Sold!.... and the organisers put a Sold mark at the top right area of the painting. We took photos of the painting, me and the organisers and of course the new owner of the artwork... for sure, the documentations of that exhibit are still kept today..... if I may try to dig it....

The arrangement was, the painting will be paid and to be claimed after the exhibit ends for a month,.... we exhanged contact details (no emails yet at that time - i regret!) and she'll be the one to fetch the painting and contact me for the bill.......i waited until month ends.

Also at that time (around February, 2001), I was busy finishing a number of paintings intended for another group exhibit as part of a project completion for that school year.....Busy! ... extremely busy!.... its normal if your a Fine Arts disciple.. you may never forget an oil paint than food and time...but spare red horse please!... its the solvent for every artist dead or alive.......

So, time has come ive contacted the woman who "bought" the painting.....i was greeted by her tremendous reasons that she doesnt want the painting ..... and stated that she only reserved the painting and she never bought it......reserved, bought, sold or whatever conditions I was stunned!.... i don't know how to react..... and the phone conversation was cut at that time as she said that she is leaving for Thailand.... catching her flight..... all my neurons shuts down!

For all I know....time has passed by so quickly, so quickly that I wasn't able to attend the egress of the Pamasin exhibit....... i wasnt able to keep track of the painting..... i didn't get a chance to ask the management of the hotel about the painting.......... i was lost!...

Was it a negligence?.....or someone must be pointed on this?....... i dont know!......

The last information about the painting that it was hanged at the west side lobby at the hotel as seen by a friend of mine who is also an artist herself....

Almost a decade had passed by still no news about the Painting......is the Painting lost forever?!

The picture above is an original study of the lost painting which was completed in year 2001. The lost painting is part of a series of paintings made in 2001.