(in conjunction with the exhibition a Ayala Museum from 13 Feb to 11 June 2017) First Light traces an arc from the genre, color, and pictorial representation of Luz’s early works in the 1950s to the muted colors and simplified lines and shapes of the 1960s. In 1952, Arturo Luz created a series of paintings that marked the beginning of his life as a professional artist. The paintings from this time typically depict scenes from Philippine life. From this first figurative phase, Luz in the 1960s progressed from exuberance of color and subject to a simplification into line and form. The transition of his work into having a more minimal and architectural dimension would later become the hallmark of his work. This exhibition is part of Ayala Museum’s Images of Nation program which showcases works by Filipino artists who have been named National Artists in the Visual Arts. Its primary aim is to share the extraordinary vision and formal excellence embodied in this award. The works are gathered from both institutional and private collections, some of which have never been exhibited to the public.