The Gallery closes at 3pm on 5, 12,19 Jul, and remains closed on 26 Jul, 1–3, 8–10 & 15–17 Aug for National Day preparations. Click here for more details.

“Order is essential," the transcontinental Fernando Zóbel once remarked. This philosophy guided both his artistic practice and his methodical exploration of the world. Yet, within this order, his work reveals a tension between structure and spontaneity.

This survey of his art invites you to travel with Zóbel to North America, Asia and Europe, where he practised from the 1940s to the 1980s. You will see his fascination with art history and American Abstract Expressionism in Boston and Rhode Island, his experiments with the syringe as a device for painting in Manila, his deft compositions of black paint on white canvases in Madrid, and his homage to the landscapes of Cuenca. As we trace his travels across the world, we will discover how modernism took different forms in each place and time.  

 

  • When: 9 May – 30 Nov 2025
  • Suitable For: Adults, Families, Visitors with accessibility needs, Students and Educators
  • Where: Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery and Level 4 Gallery, City Hall Wing
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Order is essential

Fernando Zóbel (1924–1984) was a transcontinental artist who played a pivotal role in shaping modern art across the Philippines, Spain, and beyond. This exhibition charts Zóbel’s journey through four geographical sections, New England, Manila, Madrid and Cuenca, tracing the evolution of his work and influences.

Explore Zóbel’s artistic evolution from his early engagement with Expressionism and American Abstract Expressionism to his pioneering Saeta series, where he used a syringe to paint. His evolving abstraction—from the stark black-and-white contrasts of Serie Negra to the luminous landscapes of Cuenca— reflect his enduring dialogue with the past and the future.

Zóbel’s influence extended beyond his paintings. In Manila, he founded the Ateneo Art Gallery, the first museum of modern Philippine art. Later in Spain, he championed postwar abstraction, establishing the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español.

Exhibition Materials

Ways to experience this exhibition

Fernando Zóbel: Reading Group
Special Event | Free, registration required
Fernando Zóbel: Reading Group

Sign up to read and discuss writing by and about Zóbel. Together we will learn how he was humorous, generous, and—above all—deeply empathetic to artists and the experience of viewing art. Some prior reading will be assigned!

10.30am
19 Jul 2025 City Hall Wing, Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery
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Did You Know?

Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential builds on Zóbel: The Future of the Past, which opened at Museo Nacional del Prado (2022) in Spain and was later restaged at the Ayala Museum (2024) in the Philippines. Expanding on key narratives, the Gallery’s distinct and fresh iteration introduces exclusive works and offers fresh insights.

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