‘Kaledjo Shiyay 2’ highlights UPB Fine Arts talents

“Kaledjo Shiyay 2” exhibit opened with the theme “Filipino Culture as Depicted in Contemporary Art Forms” on February 21 at the Darnay Demetillo Art Space at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB).

The first exhibit was launched as part of the International Conference on South East Asian Crafts and Folk-Art last November 2019. This second installation was launched in line with the celebration of the National Arts Month and was sponsored by UP Baguio Committee on Culture and the Arts.

The exhibit featured different artworks from alumni and current UPB Fine Arts students. Different contemporary art forms such as paintings, print on canvas, and paper mache were displayed. An installation art mounted at the Oblation grounds was also displayed.

The UPB Fine Arts faculty hosted a short opening program recognizing the murals painted on the walls of the College of Arts and Communications (CAC) and the College of Social Science (CSS) buildings.

Jimmy Fong, Dean of the College of Communications gave his opening remarks emphasizing the role of the walls in UPB.

“Ang pader ay isang malawak na canvass na maaari nating gamitin para sa ating mga creative and artistic expressions.”

(A wall is a huge canvass that we can use for our creative and artistic expressions).

Fong ended his speech by proposing the murals to be a source of inspiration for the students.

Behind the colorful artworks: The Artists

The artists of the murals explained the rationale of their craft. Alyana Ramos, one of the painters of the murals at the CAC, stated that their mural was inspired by Napoleon Abueva’s Nine Muses.

The Nine Muses was a tribute to the art forms which the Fine Arts students tried to incorporate within the UPB setting particularly in CAC. The Nine Muses represent photography, literature, architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpting, theater, and film.

Meanwhile, the artists of the murals at the CSS explained that their mural served as background of the Ifugao house mounted at the CSS courtyard. Denise Cortez, one of the artists gave details about their mural.

“Dito kasi sa mural namin, yung concept namin is lahat ng feasts or ng ceremonies na madadaanan ng isang Ifugao boy simula pagkabata niya hanggang sa pagtanda niya.”

(The concept of our mural is an Ifugao boy’s lifelong journey in relation to all the feasts and ceremonies he will be celebrating).

Aside from the recognition of the murals, the program also acknowledged Silvino Dulnuan, alumnus of UPB Fine Arts Program who was recognized for elevating the status of Baguio City as a City of Arts and Culture and Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.

Dulnuan was one of the spearheads of the Pamana Mural along Naguillian Road and is one of the painters of the Baguio Lion’s Head.

Also present in the event were Priscilla Macansantos, Chairman of UP Baguio Committee on Culture and the Arts. Macansantos emphasized in a speech the importance of art in in the lives of people.

"Ang sining ay napakapowerful, maaari itong instrumento upang tuklasin at ipaliwanang ang mga katotohanan at maaari rin itong gawing instrument para ito ay takasan."

(Art is very powerful; it can be an instrument to discover and explain the truth and it can also be an instrument to evade it.)

Macansantos urged the students to use art as a tool for empowerment.

“Gamitin ito para tayo ay maging mapagpalaya at bigyan natin ang ating mga kababayan na pumunta doon sa daan ng kalayaan.” Macasantos added.

(Use it [art] to liberate and show our countrymen the path to freedom.)

Asrielle Dalusong, one of the artists, emphasized the importance of the exhibit.

“As an artist pinag-aaralan namin syempre yung madaming bagay, majority din syempre yung Filipino culture since yun talaga yung pinanggagalingan natin at iyon yung pundasyon ng pagkatao natin. Pinakita namin yung interpretation namin through Contemporary Art forms na iba-iba yung art forms na nandito ngayon, iba-ibang styles, iba-ibang mga ways ng pag-kulay kung paano maipapakita and paano mabibigyan ng exposure.”

(As an artist, we study a lot of things that involves Filipino Culture. Since it is where we are coming from and it is the foundation of our identity. We used different Contemporary Art forms to interpret, used different styles, used different ways of coloring to give the art exposure.)

Dalusong also shared the details on one of her artworks entitled Planting Rice with the Government.

“Ang dami kasing issues ngayon sa mga farmer natin, so ako kasi bilang yung grandfather ko ay farmer din siya before, malapit ako medyo sa agriculture so gusto ko bigyan ng exposure yung nangyayari sa ibang magsasaka sa bansa natin. Inspired by Amorsolo’s Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, ginawan ko siya ng twist so layer layer siya and and then scrape yung pinaka-outer. Tinatawag si Amorsolo na ni-roromanticize niya yung time na iyon so parang yun nga yung nangyayari ngayon na niroromanticize pero yung actual na nangyayari ay may mga killings ng farmers.”

(There are a lot of issues regarding our farmers, given that my grandfather is a farmer before, I can somehow relate to agriculture. I want to give exposure to what’s happening to the farmers in our country. Inspired by Amorsolo’s Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, I added a twist, layer by layer then scraped the outermost layer. Amorsolo is famous for romanticizing and [my artwork] shows how the killings of the farmers are romanticized today.)

Laika Jezrel Mendoza, a UPB student who went to the exhibit, shared her insights about the event.

“It made me realize na marami talagang mediums to connect with people and sobrang very effective rin po ng art aside from yung makikita mo siya, nakakapaginvoke din siya sayo ng critical thinking, ikaw mismo yung makakabuo ng opinion mo sa certain issue.”

(It made me realize that there are a lot of mediums to connect with people and it is very effective. Aside from being able to visualize, it also invokes critical thinking and it is up to you on how you formulate your opinion about the issue.)

The “Kaledjo Shiyay 2” exhibit will run until March 31, 2020.

By Pia Mari Rebato