Biography
In English
Antonio Blanco was born on September 15, 1911, in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Both of his parents were Spanish, a fact that Blanco believed linked him geographically and spiritually to Miro and Salvador Dali. His father settled in Manila during the Spanish - American War, where he attained prominence as a physician. Blanco was educated at the American Central School in Manila. During his high school years he loved the arts, literature and language classes but struggled in scientific subjects. It is no wonder that he spoke six languages - Spanish, French, English, Tagalog, Indonesian and a bit of Balinese. After completing high school in Manila, Blanco studied at the National Academy of Art in New York under Sidney Dickinson. During those early formative years, Blanco concentrated on the human form, fascinated by the female body more than any other subject matter. To further his studies and ignite his traveling spirit, he traveled extensively throughout the world before he finally landed in Bali in 1952. The King of Ubud gave Blanco a piece of land to set up his home and studio in Campuan, Ubud, at the confluence of two sacred rivers. Blanco and his Balinese wife, the celebrated dancer Ni Ronji, lived in their mountain retreat, barely leaving it for the world outside. Following a brief trip to the United States, where Blanco acquired many new collectors, the couple never left their fantasy home again.
Living in serene surroundings with his four children, Tjempaka, Mario, Orchid and Maha Devi, Bali became Blanco's center. He was fascinated by the island and completely captivated by its charm.
Blanco lived and worked in his magical hilltop home until his death in 1999, feverishly creating his fantasy portraits of beautiful women. Surrounded by lush gardens, rice fields and with a Banyan tree standing over his family's temple, Antonio Blanco proceeded to create a new reality for himself. His artistic outpourings of this isolated world became much sought after by eager art lovers, collectors and promoters. Within a few years, Blanco became the most famous foreign artist to make Bali his home. He was recognized in both Indonesia and abroad, receiving numerous Blanco Awards and commanding huge prizes at international auctions.
By the end of his life, Blanco had begun building his museum at his studio in Campuan. Dramatically, he died just before its inauguration. His funeral was marked by a very important Blanco Cremationin Ubud. It was Blanco's dream to turn his studio-mansion into a museum. His son, Mario, fulfilled this dream by following his path to become a painter. The Blanco Renaissance Museum is now open to the public, exposing both the maestro's and Mario's art works.
In Balinese
Antonio Blanco embas warsa 15 September 1911 ring Manila, ibukota Filiphina. Makakalih reraman dané mawit saking Spanyol, nika mawinan Blanco sanget percaya yening dané kaiket antuk geografis lan spiritual ring Miro lan Salvador Dali. Bapannyané meneng ring Manila ritatkala kawéntenang siat Spanyol ngelawan Amerika, bapannyané madué among-amongan pinaka Dokter. Blanco masekolah ring American Central School ring Manila. Rikalaning masekolah dané kalintang seneng ring paplajahan kesenian, Sastra lan Basa nanging dané kalingtang meweh ngresepang sakancan paplajahan sains. Nika taler sané mawinan dané waged ring makudang-kudang basa minakadi: Spanyol, Prancis, Inggris, Talagog, Indonesia, lan basa Bali. Disampuné muputang sekolah SMA ring Manila, Blanco ngelanturang masekolah ring National Academy of Art di New York, ring sor Sidney Dickinson. Ritatkala nyumunin malajah, Blanco ngulengang kayun ring kawentenan angga sarira, utamannyané ring anggan anak istri. Raris dané ngalanturan pagenjahnyané tur nagingin manah malelana, dané malelana ngintar ring makudang-kudang panegara raris enceg ring Bali duk warsa 1952. Raja Ubud mapica tegak marupa tanah majeng ring Blanco kaanggen nyujukang umah tur studionyané magenah ring campuhan, Ubud, nepek ring campuhan tukad. Blanco madué kurenan juru igel kasub sane mapeséngan Ni Ronji, meneng irika (Campuhan). Sasampune ngawentenang pamargi ka Amerika tur akéh ngamolihang prakanti anyar, dané lan kurenannyané nénten pernah matilar saking Bali.
Madué paumahan kalintang asri lan rasmi irika dané kasarengin olih okannyané petang diri, Tjempaka, Mario, Orchid lan Maha Devi, Blanco nyanyan tresna ring Bali. Dané banget angob ring kahanan kawibawan pulo Baline.
Blanco meneng tur ngambar ring umahnyané sané magenah ring bukité nyantos dané lampus warsa 1999, dané akéh ngambar angga sarira anak istri ring kanvas. Kaiterin antuk entik-entikan sarwa kembang, carik lan taru bingin nayuhin sanggahnyané. Antonio Blanco madué pangrasa anyar ring paukudannyané. Saking genahnyané meneng dané prasida ngamedalang gegambaran sané banget kasenengin samaliha kabuatang pisan olih pengamat seni, koléktor lan Promotor seni. Raris nénten sué ring warsa salanturnyane, Blanco sayan kasub tur kaloktah dados artis sane meneng ring Bali. Dané kaloktah boya ring Indonesia kemanten nanging dané kaajiang taler ring dura negara antuk makudang-kudang penghargaan, samaliha gambarannyané katumbas antuk pangarga sane lintang ageng ring lelang-lelang Internasional.
Nanjek rikala sampun lingsir, Blanco ngawitin makarya museum lukisan ring studio seninyane sane magenah ring Campuan. Rikala pacang mungkah museum lukisan, saget dané ngariinin lampus. Dane kakaryanin upacara pangabenan maka cihna dane sampun amor ring acintya. Okannyané sané mapesengan Mario, ngalanturang pidabdab bapannyané mungkah Museum tur ngalanturang seni ngambar sekadi selampah laku sang Maestro. Museum Renaissance kaanggén nyihnayang pakardin gambaran saking maestro Blanco lan Mario sane dados kacingakin oleh makasami parajanané.
In Indonesian
Antonio Blanco lahir pada tanggal 15 September 1911 di Manila, ibu kota Filipina. Kedua orangtuanya berasal dari spanyol, oleh karena itu Blanco meyakini bahwa ia terhubung secara geografis dan spiritual pada Miro and Salvador Dali. Ayahnya menetap di Manila selama perang Spanyol - Amerika, bertugas sebagai dokter. Blanco sekolah di American Central School di Manila. Semasa sekolahnya ia sangat senang kelas-kelas kesenian, literatur dan bahasa tapi kesulitan mengukuti kelas sains. Tidak heran beliau dapat berbicara enam bahasa - Spanyol, Perancis, Ingris, Tagalog, Indonesia, dan sedikit Bahasa Bali. Selulus SMA di Manila, Blanco melanjutkan pendidikannya di National Academy of Art di New York, dibawah Sidney Dickinson. Pada masa-masa awal pembentukannya tersebut, Blanco berkonsentrasi pada bentuk tubuh manusia, terutama pada bentuk tubuh wanita. Sebagai kelanjutan pendidikannya, sekaligus memenihu hasrat berkelananya, ia menjelajah keliling dunia hingga akhirnya menginjakkan kaki di Bali pada tahun 1952. Raja Ubud memberi sepetak tanah kepada Blanco untuk mendirikan rumah dan studionya di Campuan, Ubud, pada pertemuan dua sungai suci. Blanco dan istrinya, seorang penari Bali terkenal bernama Ni Ronji, tinggal di rumah tersebut. Setelah perjalanan singkatnya ke Amerika, dimana Blanco mendapat banyak kontak kolektor baru, ia dan istrinya tidak pernah meninggalkan Bali lagi.
Hidup di rumah asri dengan pemandangan indah bersama empat anak mereka, Tjempaka, Mario, Orchid dan Maha Devi, Bali menjadi inti dari Blanco. Ia amat mengagumi pulau ini dan terperangkap oleh kharismanya.
Blanco hidup dan berkarya di rumah atas bukitnya hingga ia meninggal pada tahun 1999, menuangkan berbagai lukisan fantasi wanita cantik pada kanvas. Dikelilingi kebun bersemi, sawah dan pohon beringin merindangi pura keluarganya, Antonia blanco menciptakan realita baru untuk dirinya. Tuangan artistiknya didalam lingkungannya yang terisolir tersebut membuahkan karya-karya yang sangat dicari dan dihargai oleh pecinta seni, kolektor, dan promotor. Dalam waktu beberapa tahun, Blanco menjadi artis asing paling terkenal yang bertempat tinggal di Bali. Ia dikenal tidak hanya di Indonesia tapi juga seluruh dunia, mendapat berbagai pernghargaan, dan lukisannya dibeli dengan harga tinggi pada lelang-lelang internasional.
Mendekati akhir hidupnya, Blanco mulai mendirikan museum lukisan di studio seninya di Campuan. Kematiannya dramatis tidak lama sebelum pembukaan museumnya. Upacara kremasi ngaben yang cukup besar menandai kepergian beliau. Anak Blanco, Mario, memenuhi mimpi Blanco membuka museum dan melajutkan darah pelukisnya melanjutkan jejak kaki Sang Maestro. Museum Renaissance Blanco kini dibuka untuk umum, menampilkan karya-karya Sang Maestro dan Mario.
Examples of work
Ni Bawang (The Cinderella of Bali) Oil on canvas (around 1964) Collection of the Blanco Museum
The legend of Cinderella is found in many forms all over the world. Here is my version: There are four girls; three are very ugly and egotistical. The Step Mother hates Cinderella, the fourth girl, and harasses her constantly. Cinderella finally leaves home and, when she reaches the mountains, Magic Birds befriend her and shower her with gifts of gold, diamonds and love. This legend ends with a Handsome Prince marrying Cinderella and they live happily ever after.
http://blancomuseum.com/