01 October 2013 – Eighteen Filipino artists are featured in an exhibit entitled Triumph of Philippine Art at the George Segal Gallery at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. The Philippine Consulate General New York and Ayala Museum co-sponsors the exhibit which will run until December 15.
During the opening reception last September 21, Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. thanked Montclair State and Ayala Museum for showcasing the artists’ works and exposing them to a broader audience. He also highlighted the trend that Philippine arts is given more and more importance in the international art world, as evidenced by the increasing demand for Filipino art in international auction houses and travelling display of Philippine art in international galleries and museums. He underscored the theme that most of the works are socio-political in nature and that the opening coincided with the 41st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
Montclair State University officials headed by President Susan Cole, College of Arts Dean Daniel Gurskis, and George Segal Gallery Director Teresa Lapid Rodriguez were present to formally open the event. Also in attendance were artists Athena Magcase-Lopez and Michael Geronimo Gomez. The other artists featured but were not able to make it to the event are Leo Abaya, National Artist Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera, Buen Calubayan, Ernest Concepcion, Mideo Cruz, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Brenda Fajardo, Karen Ocampo Flores, Gregory Raymond Halili, Mark Orozco Justiniani, Julie Lluch, Racquel De Loyola, Renan Ortiz, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Mark Salvatus and Pablo Baen Santos. The exhibit took some years to be realized and is the first Filipino art exhibit in the George Segal Gallery.
The artworks in the collection vary in form and materials. Athena Lopez conveyed maternal responsibilities in the midst of persecution through her paintings A Ray of Hope and Song of Mother. Feminist artist Julie Lluch used Philippine red clay in her sculpture “Philippine Gothic” to illustrate the gender inequality that persists in Philippine society. Imelda Cajipe Endaya takes her feminism to a more democratic level in her works Seedlings Trellis and Inay Ineng Kalayaan ay Inyo Rin, using bamboo mats, nipa leaves, native placemats and lace curtains. Michael Geronimo Gomez has a comic take on political dynasties and the Philippine voting system in his polymer clay sculpture Duplicity Multiplicity and Botokabajan. Benedicto Cabrera’s etchings/aquatint works depict scenes and characters during the Martial law era specifically in 1081, From Hillman to Sargent, and Marlboro Country. Materialism and ambition is the inspiration to Christina Quisumbing Ramilo’s Mukhang Pera which uses actual currency to create a collage.
Several mini-events will be staged during the exhibit period such as a Skype live streaming between the artists in Manila and the audience in Montclair, NJ and several workshops and lecture series about the themes depicted in the artworks. For more information, please visit http://www.montclair.edu/arts/university-art-galleries-george-segal-gallery. END