By Ulysses Duterte, Jr. (2020)
1.56" x 1.56"
The Miniature Book Library is pleased to welcome PORTRAITS, a miniature art book by Ulysses Duterte, Jr., a Philippine-born, interdisciplinary visual artist based in San Francisco Bay Area, California. You can see more information about his art at his WEBSITE. PORTRAITS is a conceptual exercise in linear minimalism as Ulysses uses thin lines to develop six concepts:
Mother & Child
Couple
Self-Portrait
Family
Group
Retouched
The results are witty and capped by his smart rationalization of numerous blank pages following his images which total three per concept; the 15 pages (from the first 5 concepts) leave the book's majority of pages to be blank following his last image. Before the first of the blank pages, he inscribed the title "Retouched" even though he technically never touched them. But by grouping the blank pages under "Retouched," he presents an implication his pen/brush had marked the blank pages before they were *retouched* back to blankness--thus, absence as (the conceptual artist's) presence. In turn, the concept allows him to *finish* his book in a deft minimalist turn.
Ulysses has been using lines to create a variety of artworks. He describes his line-based art as follows:
"Most of my landscapes and seascapes are reminders of my long drives in Nevada, New Jersey and California. Driving alone on those empty highways gave me time to meditate on my relationship with God. Primarily, those vertical lines always remind me of the need to be God-oriented (pointing North) when it comes to my values. Putting these symbols make me a part of His landscape. I choose to paint straight lines. For me, straight lines represent absolute truth."The Miniature Book Library presents another example of Ulysses' line-based approach with his 5 PAGES, ONE BOOK -- click on the link for more information, including how, when asked to share images of other artworks that utilize his line, Ulysses presented the following work:
"Same Difference #2" (acrylic and watercolor on paper) 2019
We are pleased to present images of PORTRAITS, exactly as found in the miniature book. But, first, it's also worth noting how Ulysses also repurposed the book cover to align with his art. The book cover initially was covered in colorful and patterned fabric from Nepal. As you can see, in a well-considered decision, Ulysses painted a solid black band to mute the bottom of the cover as well as inscribed his vaunted thin line.
We thank Ulysses Duterte, Jr. for sharing and donating PORTRAITS to the Miniature Book Library!
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