Sibol Reflects on 40 Years of Filipino Art
It is the role of the artist to reflect the times. Such is the case with the 200 and more artists who've made their names with the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) program.
In 1984, the very first MADE poster flashed the words: "Artists of Today, Art Masters of Tomorrow." The program has since gone on to shape the country's up-and-coming artists, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents all the while documenting and celebrating uniquely Filipino perspectives. It's an incubator that plants the seeds, so to speak.
With Sibol at the M, the exhibition showcases a curated selection of winning pieces through the decades. Curated by the Foundation University Fine Arts Department led by the Dumaguete-based artist, consultant, educator, and researcher Sandra Palomar, the multi-sensory exhibit showcases the growth of MADE artists.
Mark Justiniani standing beside his painting, "Last Trip," which won the MADE prize back in 1990.
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“Culture is a fundamental pillar of nation-building. By nurturing Filipino artistry and creativity through MADE, we are empowering local artists and fostering a thriving visual arts community,” adds Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) President Aniceto Sobrepeña.
Instead of just showing different pieces, Palomar and her team ensured that Sibol would be an invitation to a multi-sensorial experience. These archive Filipino artists' varied responses to their current realities, as seen in the themes, mediums, and ideas they use.
The curator, together with the Foundation University of Dumaguete’s Fine Arts Department, initially chose 55 artworks from the MADE database. They submitted the said works to the foundation for loan or exhibit. From there, Sibol would take on the top 40 pieces. Interestingly, MADE even partnered with Samsung Philippines to add a new wrinkle to the exhibit by way of virtual and augmented reality.
A Sensorial Walkthrough
Roberto Feleo's "August 6" opens the exhibition. In 1984, the Metrobank National Painting Competition served as an instrument for young artists amidst political, economic, and social turmoil.
The artist articulated inherent identities by way of Filipino mythology, breaking away from conventional media by using polychromed wood. Here, guests are invited to smell the old wood.
Feleo's "August 6" is lifted from the day the atomic bomb hit the city of Hiroshima in Japan.
Justiniani's "Last Trip" makes an appearance, as well. Using a four-point curvilinear perspective, the artist exaggerated the depth and interior of the jeepney. This gives the viewer a cinematic, three-dimensional experience of urban life.
These nocturnal characters are complemented by the sounds of the night through the cassette tape and player at Sibol, a feature credited to director and curator Erwin Romulo.
Meanwhile, Harry Mark C. Gonzales lends his name to the exhibition with "A Protest Over the Guimaras Oil Spill," which won the grand prize in the sculpture recognition category back in 2007.
As the name implies, it is a direct reference to the 200,000-liter oil spill that struck the shores of Guimaras in 2006. Gonzales made use of clay and noxious bunker oil to depict the tragedy, creating an image of a fish gasping for breath. The eco-orbs present at the show are meant for the public to sit in.
"Puro Kahig, Walang Matuka" (2023), Grand Awardee, Oil/Acrylic on Canvas Category
And then there's Jowee Aguinaldo and "Puro Kahig, Walang Matuka." The beauty of “Puro Kahig, Walang Matuka" is how it speaks of the grief of farming without misrepresenting the farmers' plight.
With figures set in a desolate area, this portrayal demonstrates the irony of life on the fringes for people who directly nourish the nation. Organizers ask visitors to draw the missing table and put food on the plates with a tablet attached to the exhibition area.
Metathesis of Styles
"MANAnahi (Legacy of a Seamstress)" by Raffy Napay, Textile and Sewing Machine
In Metathesis of Styles, pieces by former MADE winners demonstrate each artist's growth after the program. It's a walkthrough of their maturation and evolution as artists, meant to mirror their journeys in the broader context of Filipino contemporary art.
Raffy Napay, who is best known for reimagining old-style portraiture through weaving, occupies a dedicated space for his installation "MANAnahi (Legacy of a Seamstress)." Here, he uses a wide range of threads, cotton, and other fabrics to create the display, honoring his seamstress mother in the process, as well, with the sewing machine.
On the other hand, Leeroy New's "Grotto" is a captivating commentary on Filipino traffic, coming up with an extraterrestrial grotto sculpture that typifies his mixed media experimentation. Then there are artists like Elmer Borlongan, Mark Andy Garcia, and Justiniani, whose work showcases their continued exploration beyond the usual media.
"Online" (2017) by Mark Justiniani, Reflective Media, Light Fixtures, and Objects
“The Sibol exhibition is a testament to the evolution and diversity of Philippine art and culture over the past four decades and we’re excited to invite everyone to see and experience that through the interactive artworks that we have on display," Sobrepeña notes.
The artworks are all open for public viewing at the M (formerly the Metropolitan Museum of Manila), Bonifacio Global City, Taguig until October 19, 2024.
Established in 1984 by the late Metrobank Group founder and chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty, MADE has served as a platform for discovery for the most passionate and persistent creative visionaries in the country. To date, more than 500 visual artists and design professionals have been recognized. Many of them are now carving significant names in the local and even international art and design scenes. Past awardees include Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, Leeroy New, Alfredo Esquillo, Andres Barrioquinto, Yeo Kaa, and Cedrick dela Paz.
