May 16, 2024 - The Philippine Consulate in Vancouver was transformed into a veritable garden showcasing the paintings of Vancouver-based artist Delia Laglagaron in a show that opened on Friday, April 26, 2024 titled Floral Abstractions.
The paintings in the show betray the artist’s diverse encounters with nature. A canvas of two large hibiscus, yellow and orange, and another of purple and white orchids brought one back to tropical climes, far away from chilly Vancouver. A lotus flower bloomed in one corner, set against a mysterious green, its white petals edged with a deep pink. But then yellow, purple and blue flowers on another canvas spoke of a northern spring, seeming to almost be swaying in the breeze. Stargazer lilies, pink and white, smiled.
A couple of hibiscus flowers fill the canvas for Laglagaron’s Tropical Allure.
The painter, in fact, notes that while much of the work on display was done in the past 10 years, her artistic journey began when she was a child in the island of Bohol in the Philippines in her parents’ home with its lush gardens, close to the sea. That journey was put on hold when in 1976, she immigrated to Canada with her husband Ron - both of them graduates of the University of the Philippines. On arrival, she had the immigrant mindset of doing anything, anywhere, all at once. She confesses that she did not dream she would go from running a small baking business to becoming second in command as deputy commissioner and deputy administrative officer of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) - now called Metro Vancouver, and in 1994, a master’s student in Public Administration at the John Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University.
It was in retirement in 2015 that Delia found the artistic spark in her, lit by a nun who encouraged her work in high school, that was still very much alive. This is her admonition to all who came to see her work: “The human spirit can remember and reinvent. It is never too late to pursue your life’s passions.” She notes the immigrant propensity for very hard work, saving little time for oneself and other pursuits. She reminded visitors of the “unparalleled joy” that doing creative work brings.
The artist was introduced by daughter Laureen Laglagaron, who is a lawyer with the Department of Justice in Washington DC. Consul Arlene Magno congratulated Delia on her achievement, noting the Consulate’s commitment to cultural exchange and nurturing Filipino Canadian talents. Delia’s show is the latest in a series of art exhibitions that the Consulate has sponsored. It runs until June 2024.
To view a sampling of Delia’s artworks, go to https://www.canadianfilipino.net/more/gallery/artist-delia-laglagaron-s-floral-abstractions
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