My City, My SM, My Art, which is a celebration of Philippine traditional arts and modern design, is the latest in the My City, My SM series which initially featured My City, My SM, My Cuisine and My City, My SM, My Crafts.
Among the honorees were internationally renowned chef/artist Claude Tayag; Ronna Manansala, granddaughter of national artist Vicente Manansala; actress/painter Ana Capri; painter/ sculptors Hermie Pineda and Norman Tiotuico; noted glamour photographer Borj Meneses and multi-awarded fi lmmaker Briliante Mendoza.
National Artist for Visual Arts Vicente Manansala was also honored during the event which was attended by Mabalacat City Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales; Department of Tourism regional director Ronnie Tiotuico; Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president/CEO Noel F. Manankil and VP Alveen Tabag; Angeles City’s first lady Mrs. Herminia Pamintuan; and SM executives led by SVP for marketing communications group Millie F. Dizon and SM Clark mall manager Andrea L. Madlangbayan among others.
My City, My SM, My Art was launched in cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts “in celebration of Philippine visual arts – painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and fi lmmaking.”
The My City, My SM campaign series “bring art and people together by showcasing the works of masters, modernists, and millennials in a road show that advocates arts for all the teamwork with communities to mount exhibits, workshops, and contests in key cities around the Philippines.”
Watercolors
Claude Tayag said what he showcased were one of his early works which are original watercolors he painted in 1981. His first one-man exhibit was staged in 1978 when he was 22 years old with the theme Filipino fi estas like Moriones, Ati-Atihan and even saints a and landscapes.
Philippine themes have remained his inspiration but he added that “for me the inspiration is the subject matter itself.” As to his forte watercolors, Tayag revealed it as “most difficult since there is no remedy for mistakes unlike oil or acrylic which can be scrapped or painted over.”
“This is one of the messages I want to impart to the public because this is the most difficult to master once you put the paint on paper that’s it,” he said. “In watercolor you have to be very, very sure of your strokes. It’s the mastery of the medium.”
“I love watercolors because you have to work very fast in one sitting you must be able to finish your work,” he added.
Asked of his favorites, Tayag said: “I love all my works. They are all my favorites. They are just like my children.”
He said Emilio Aguilar “Abe” Cruz, painter, writer, journalist and diplomat who was the best friend of his father Renato “Katoks” Tayag, was his biggest infl uence in his paintings which he also considered his mentor.
Glamour
Glamour photographer Borj Meneses said “through the years since my first venture, photography has become a lifestyle for me and not just work or hobby.”
Meneses, who is officially a communications officer and graphic artist of CDC, said he was inspired by his uncles who were also photographers but learned his craft through self-study.
Meneses’ photos are regularly featured in various glamour magazines.
Kulitan
Norman Tiotuico, younger brother of DOT regional director Ronnie, said he took up formal studies at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts and considers a centerpiece monumental sculpture at the Pampanga State Agricultural University – Sibul Ning Kabiyasnan (Spring of Knowledge) – as one of his masterpieces.
“I did that for four months because it was six meters in height by 20 meters,” he said.
Tiotuico said the “Kulitan” which was inscribed “ing banwa keti sulip (heaven on earth)” is foremost of his works on display at the My City, My SM series.
Ballerinas
Manansala admitted that her most important work was not on display at the show because it was a metal sculpture which is seven feet tall and made from discarded metal materials from junkshops
However, Manansala said she has about eight paintings, mostly of ballerinas, on display at the show using oil and acrylic.
“All of them are my favorites,” she said.
“I have nothing in particular,” she mused when asked what her inspiration was. “What my heart feels comes out to my canvas,” she added.
Brilliant
Mendoza, who is the first Asian to win the prestigious Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his film “Kinatay” in 2009 and is regarded by the world’s top film critics as an Ultraneo-realist, was the first My City, My SM honoree.
At one point, Jonalyn Albong, the person who played the role of Manoro (the teacher) in the film directed by Mendoza, was given a plaque of appreciation.
National artist for visual arts Vicente Manansala was honored with a video presentation of his works which was capped with a presentation to her granddaughter Ronna who was among the master artists feted in the My City, My SM My Art series.
To cap the night, the winner in the My City, My SM, My Art contest, which is also advocating art for all by conducting workshops in communities for a new generation of artists, was announced as Peon Tam Q. Mercado for his work in “sand art.”
