Feeding the Doves: Painting from Photographs

Paintings by Angelito ‘Jo’ Florendo from Photographs by O.P. Monzon

Celebrating Ten Years of Paintings from Photographs, 2011–2021

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” – Ansel Adams

“What do you do outside of being a physician?” Jo Florendo’s abrupt question posed during the setup of the “Three-Gether for Art” exhibit at the Philippine Heart Center, stopped me in my tracks. It was a question I often asked radiology residents during their interview: “What do you do in your free time?” Their typical, unprepared response, “It didn’t occur to me to do things other than seeing patients,” always prompted me to remind them that life offered more than a single profession. “We are not defined solely by our work,” I would whisper.

As a resident, my life was a whirlwind of activities. Beyond clinical

duties, I engaged in candle-lit poetry readings, started up running groups, organized physician photography exhibits, and embarked on out-of-town photography trips. With my trusty old Minolta, I captured golfers’ swings, serene landscapes, and fleeting moments in train stations and public squares, both locally and during my fellowship in Germany. These images and the stories behind them formed a cherished portfolio.

When Jo asked, I simply replied, “Amateur photography.”
I mentioned my three solo exhibits, “Ordinary Photographs,” “Some People, Some Photographs,” and “Windows, Doors, Narrow Streets,” all achieved with a modest Kodak Easy Share camera.

“When can I see your photographs?” he asked, hinting at the possibility of
painting them. My immediate response was insecurity. My photos were, I
believed, ordinary, unmanipulated, and far from professional. I had aimed to demonstrate the potential of simple digital cameras, then a novelty.

After reviewing my work, Jo saw potential. He chose “Flowers on a Window” as our starting point, promising to return in a month with his interpretation. That photograph, a hurried shot from a tour bus, seemed insignificant. A month later, Jo arrived, soaked from a three-hour drive in a torrential downpour, his car breaking down en route. But his excitement was palpable. He unveiled his painting.

My eyes darted between the photograph and the painting, stunned. It was the first time I’d witnessed a photograph transformed into art. Jo’s talent was undeniable. He had elevated my trivial snapshot into something extraordinary. My small art became bigger.

“Can I select more photographs?” Jo asked, envisioning a larger project. He proposed a deadline: twenty paintings, four a month, culminating in a January exhibit. I agreed, recognizing the time and dedication involved.

The paintings arrived swiftly, each delivery a revelation. By Christmas, we had twenty-one paired pieces. I was astounded, seeing them together in pairs. The photographs served as inspiration, but the paintings were Jo’s unique interpretations, infused with his creativity and style. The

project became a profound reflective experience.

This collaboration, “Feeding the Doves: Paintings from Photographs,” became my first major exhibit. As a radiologist, I understood the power of interpreting images. Like art critics, we unravel mysteries, seeking meaning within visual data.

Our exhibit, held at the Philippine Heart Center in January 2011, was a landmark event, showcasing paintings alongside their photographic origins. It earned the Unique Exhibit Award of the Year and marked the start of a remarkable artistic alliance.

Jo had unlocked a delicate interpretation of my photographs. The opening was a celebration of art, featuring Ikebana arrangements by Dr. Divina Lupe Mendoza-Lazaro and a comic book launch by Dr. Carlo Jose San Juan. Many of the pieces are
now in private collections.

“Feeding the Doves,” the title piece, was a photograph of my daughter Christelle in Lucca, Italy, fulfilling her dream of emulating a scene from the film “Milan.” These photographs, once mere images in my mind, had become tangible works of art.

Orestes P. Monzon
Posted at AA Appreciating Art FB Site, January 2021.

Featured Persons

Below are the Image of Dr. Op Monzon and Jo Florendo