Before her rise as a leading visual artist, Maxine Syjuco published her first book of poems at the tender age of 23. ‘A Secret Life’ offers an intimate look into her trademark confessional poetry— a work so provocative it has been translated into several languages, including French and Polish. Critically-acclaimed both locally and internationally, first-edition copies of this debut collection are now exceedingly rare.
——-
Excerpts from the critics:
“Avant-garde and dangerous… An important selection in Philippine literature.”
—Rogue Magazine
“Unlike any young poet you’ve experienced before. Maxine possesses a strong, lyrical and evocative voice.”
—Martin Alexander, Asia Literary Review
“Delicate, opulent and deeply intellectual… Syjuco writes with an almost sinister yet seductive voice that speaks of pigs’ groins, cocked guns, climactic pistols, Pollock, Nietzsche and Sartre.”
—The Manila Bulletin
“A poet who bears a dark light; beautifully terrifying and frighteningly beautiful.”
—Igan D’Bayan, The Philippine Star
“Gothic, witty, irreverent, and laden with dark humor. Maxine births a new kind of poetry that will open doors to paths previously untrod.”
—Danny C. Sillada, Philippine Daily Inquirer
“The Madonna of Philippine Literature.”
—Vim Nadera
“Hypnotic. Mesmerizing. Full of wild swings and turns.”
—Juaniyo Arcellana
“Muse Oneiric!”
—Ricardo de Ungria
“A vivacious poetry of the first order.”
—Cesare A.X. Syjuco
“Electric… Mesmerizing. Syjuco pushes the envelope by combining fresh, dynamic text with theatrical flair to reward us all with unique, cutting-edge art and transcendental awareness.”
—Alfred A. Yuson
“Sparkling! The lyricism of a brave new voice.”
—National Artist for Literature, Cirilo F. Bautista
———
Book cover portrait by At Maculangan
Back cover photo by Benedict Ros
Layout and design by Mandy Cabral
Published and exclusively distributed by Art Quest Worldwide Inc.
Printed in the Philippines by Raintree Publishing Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
——-
Softbound paperback with in-folds
Year: 2008
Number of pages (based on the last printed page): 85
Publisher: Art Quest Worldwide Inc.
Dimensions: H: 9 x L: 6 x D: 0.25 inches
ISBN 978-971-94201-0-1
Before her rise as a leading visual artist, Maxine Syjuco published her first book of poems at the tender age of 23. ‘A Secret Life’ offers an intimate look into her trademark confessional poetry— a work so provocative it has been translated into several languages, including French and Polish. Critically-acclaimed both locally and internationally, first-edition copies of this debut collection are now exceedingly rare.
——-
Excerpts from the critics:
“Avant-garde and dangerous… An important selection in Philippine literature.”
—Rogue Magazine
“Unlike any young poet you’ve experienced before. Maxine possesses a strong, lyrical and evocative voice.”
—Martin Alexander, Asia Literary Review
“Delicate, opulent and deeply intellectual… Syjuco writes with an almost sinister yet seductive voice that speaks of pigs’ groins, cocked guns, climactic pistols, Pollock, Nietzsche and Sartre.”
—The Manila Bulletin
“A poet who bears a dark light; beautifully terrifying and frighteningly beautiful.”
—Igan D’Bayan, The Philippine Star
“Gothic, witty, irreverent, and laden with dark humor. Maxine births a new kind of poetry that will open doors to paths previously untrod.”
—Danny C. Sillada, Philippine Daily Inquirer
“The Madonna of Philippine Literature.”
—Vim Nadera
“Hypnotic. Mesmerizing. Full of wild swings and turns.”
—Juaniyo Arcellana
“Muse Oneiric!”
—Ricardo de Ungria
“A vivacious poetry of the first order.”
—Cesare A.X. Syjuco
“Electric… Mesmerizing. Syjuco pushes the envelope by combining fresh, dynamic text with theatrical flair to reward us all with unique, cutting-edge art and transcendental awareness.”
—Alfred A. Yuson
“Sparkling! The lyricism of a brave new voice.”
—National Artist for Literature, Cirilo F. Bautista
———
Book cover portrait by At Maculangan
Back cover photo by Benedict Ros
Layout and design by Mandy Cabral
Published and exclusively distributed by Art Quest Worldwide Inc.
Printed in the Philippines by Raintree Publishing Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
——-
Softbound paperback with in-folds
Year: 2008
Number of pages (based on the last printed page): 85
Publisher: Art Quest Worldwide Inc.
Dimensions: H: 9 x L: 6 x D: 0.25 inches
ISBN 978-971-94201-0-1
Image 1 of 12
Image 2 of 12
Image 3 of 12
Image 4 of 12
Image 5 of 12
Image 6 of 12
Image 7 of 12
Image 8 of 12
Image 9 of 12
Image 10 of 12
Image 11 of 12
Image 12 of 12
![Filipino Art History for Children - Featuring Maxine Syjuco [Cover]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a5a804aebb9374e7118743c/fd7aaa9b-8a57-4034-a7d9-ad087f96d44f/ArtLab-SyjucoMuseum-Book-MaxineSyjuco-FilipinoArtHistoryForChildren-Cover.jpg)
![Filipino Artists in their Studios [Volume 1] - Featuring Cesare A.X. Syjuco](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a5a804aebb9374e7118743c/87454a2e-f03e-434e-9da1-bd42146c757b/ArtLab-SyjucoMuseum-Book-CesareSyjuco-FilipinoArtistsInTheirStudios-Volume1.jpg)
![A Sudden Rush of Genius: The New Underground Poetry of Cesare A.X. Syjuco [Deluxe 15-track CD Album and Book Set]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a5a804aebb9374e7118743c/15c84798-c89b-4a81-ba2b-68d198a13dd4/ArtLab-SyjucoMuseum-Book-CesareSyjuco-ASuddenRushOfGenius.jpg)
