A work by Ramon Orlina has fetched a record price at Christie’s auction of South East Asian Art in Hong Kong last November 25. The 16 ½ in. tall sculpture Venus V sold for HK$247,500 or P1,361,250. This is six times higher than the minimum estimate set by the auction house for the piece. Two Orlina pieces likewise sold at record prices in a Christie’s auction held last May, also in Hong Kong.

To celebrate this remarkable year for Orlina, Galerie Joaquin is holding an exhibit of 30 of his works at its main branch on P. Guevarra, San Juan. The show entitled Abstract Emeralds opens at 7 tonight.

Orlina started his career as an artist 30 years ago with the work Arcanum XIX Paradise Gained. Interestingly, although he started as a painter, his first solo show were paintings on glass starting a life long love affair glass as his medium. Prismatic glass sculptures followed next until he was able to launch his Glass Sculptures series at the Ayala Museum in 1983.

Abstract Emeralds is the Orlina’s 28th solo show in a stellar career that has taken him to important galleries in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States. He has also participated in group shows in Sweden, Australia, Japan, Norway, Italy, Brunei, China, Czechoslovakia, and Morocco.