Bacolod City’s cultural landscape continues to flourish, and the reopening of the J&L Marañon Art House at Osmena Aveñue, adds another distinctive attraction to the growing list of places of interest in the city.
Once a popular destination, the house had been closed for several years, but owners Jess and Ligaya Marañon, who are based in London, have now entrusted its management to Bacolod Arts, Cultural and Heritage Inc. (BACHI) under the leadership of Sandy Solinap.
As curator Solinap will oversee exhibitions and programs that highlight Bacolod’s artistic heritage, beginning with “Her Triumph”, an exhibition of paintings celebrating Women’s Month.
The house itself is a spectacle that defies convention.
Its facade is a curious blend of styles: medieval gargoyles perched on the roof, Chinese soldier figures guarding the entrance, and mosaics decorating the doorstep.
Inside, visitors are immediately overwhelmed by an explosion of art.
Every wall, floor and ceiling is filled with sculptures, paintings and mosaics, crafted from materials as varied as cement, terra cotta, wood, iron, marble, ivory, and glass.
The subjects span cultures and eras — religious icons, Grecian figures, Chinese warriors, Egyptian gods — creating a kaleidoscope of influences.
The second-floor houses porcelain plates and cups from England alongside a wall of antique and modern glass, while the third floor is dominated by a towering book collection and Egyptian-themed sculptures.
For visitors, the Art House promises an experience that is at once unsettling and awe-inspiring, a place where imagination runs riot and history collides with fantasy.
Its revival ensures that Bacolod continues to surprise and delight those who seek out its treasures, reaffirming the city’s place as a compelling center of art and culture.
The J&L Marañon Art House at Osmena Aveñue is beside Planta Hotel.
For visitor information one can call 09609263420. Walk ins are also welcome.*
