The Philippine Consulate General opened the exhibit of the works of Mr. Fernando Kabigting (seated, accompanied by his wife, Menchu Kabigting, standing) titled “Seeing Beyond: An Artist’s Journey” on June 10 at the Philippine Center New York Gallery, where its window display featured two of his pieces depicting Paoay Church and Mt. Mayon. The exhibit was the cultural centerpiece of the Consulate General’s 2015 commemoration of Philippine Independence Day.
18 June 2015 – Diplomats, artists and members of the Filipino-American community in New York City graced the opening of the latest works of renowned artist Fernando Kabiting titled “Seeing Beyond: An Artist’s Journey” at the Philippine Center New York Gallery last June 10.
Guests were treated to a first look of over 30 of Mr. Kabigting’s newest and never-before-seen art pieces that depicted Philippine landscapes and popular landmarks painted mostly on old wood used as train tracks sourced from various places in the Philippines.
In his opening remarks, Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon Jr. related how he was first introduced to the latest works of Mr. Kabigting in 2014 when he met with Mrs. Menchu Kabigting. He further said he was deeply moved and inspired by how Mr. Kabiting rose above a formidable trial that left him with a permanent physical infirmity, and how, instead of allowing this trial to stop him, he has used this to become an even greater artist.
“Mr. Kabigting’s works that we exhibit today reflect his fortitude, dedication to his craft, and a passion to create beauty,” added the Consul General.
Speaking on behalf of the artist, Mrs. Menchu Kabigting recounted how her husband suffered a debilitating stroke in 1999 that left his right hand, the hand that he used to paint, completely paralyzed and his left eye blind. Determined to continue with his craft despite the daunting physical infirmity, the artist trained his left hand to paint. The challenges to his vision also led him to venture to water color from his previous oil and charcoal media, which resulted in dramatic and striking color palettes.
“Art to Didi, as he is called, is synonymous to life, to breathing and to praying,” said Mrs. Kabigting. She disclosed that his art led him to a new horizon and to a freer level in expressing his ideas and feelings with a tone and style that reveal a complete transformation in Fernando Kabigting.
Mrs. Kabigting echoed her husband’s appreciation to the many guests that attended the exhibit opening, making special mention of the friends that helped them overcome the difficulties that the family faced as a result of the stroke. She added that this may be the last one-man exhibit that Mr. Kabigting may mount.
Mr. Kabigting’s last exhibit at the Philippine Center New York, which happened to be his first one-man show, was in 1988, when he brought his signature paintings done on “batya” or wooden basin. Since then, he had numerous one-man exhibits at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2009, at the Italia Gallery in Bacolod City in 2012, and at the Ayala Museum in 2014.
Mr. Kabigting is now based in Iloilo, the hometown of his wife, where he continues to paint.
“Seeing Beyond: An Artist’s Journey” is the centerpiece cultural presentation of the Philippine Consulate General in New York for the 2015 celebration of Philippine Independence Day. The exhibit runs from June 10 to 25. END
