Negros Artists Launch `Desparates’ Exhibits for Consciousness-Raising
Progressive artists hope to raise the consciousness of people through their socially relevant works.
BY KARL G. OMBION AND ROMMEL PIDO
Bulatlat
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Multi-awarded Negrense artist Nune Lucio Alvarado and filmmaker Peque Gallaga (1st and 2nd from right respectively) are flanked from left by art enthusiast Dr. Raymund Osmena, artists Sandy Coberos and Topi Fernandez. /CIRMS photo |
SAGAY City – Led by multi-awarded Negrense artist Nune Lucio Alvarado, Pintor Kulapol and Taliambong, community-based organizations of indigenous artists opened this week their month-long art exhibits at their Bunga Art Gallery, Pabrika located in this city, 80 kilometers north of provincial capital Bacolod City. Dubbed “Desparates,” the art exhibits reflect the consciousness of rural folk especially during the early decades as reflected in their superstitious beliefs and traditional social practices. Alvarado said that the art exhibits aim to raise the consciousness of the people, not only arts enthusiasts, on the social bases of these desperations and the role they played in the life and struggles of the rural folk for social awakening and emancipation. “Desparates are replica of the feudal economic base and the neo-colonial system that we have; they have been used as ideological weapons of subjugation and domination by those who control and run our country.” |
On the other hand, Alvarado stressed, there are “desparates” which reflect the millenarian view of our people especially rural folk, a view that produces symbols of greater saving power, dissent, unity and hope. “I believe that reliving these `desparates’ through our art works would greatly help not only in inculcating art appreciations, but in the process of re-orientation of our people to regain their dignity and aspiration for social change.”
Among the art works unveiled in the exhibits were “Pari nga Wala Ulo” (Headless Priest), “Kapre sa Daku nga Kahoy” (A Giant Bearded Man in a Big Tree), “Balite” (Enchanted Tree), “Aswang” (Evil Creature), “Kristong Bayani” (Heroic Christ), “Tianak” (Small Evil Creature), “Manananggal” (Half-body Flying Creature) and “Ang mga Mapagpalayang Anghel” (The Liberating Angels).
Alvarado is known locally and internationally for his mostly progressive works of art that depict the faces, the plight and struggle of the Negros-based sakadas (laborers hired from outside) and other marginalized sectors. He is also a founding member of the Concerned Artists of Negros and the Black Artists of Asia.
Sandy Coberos, an artists trained by Alvarado, said that the art exhibit is a form of creative education among the young generation to appreciate history. “Many of our youth are attuned to contemporary arts and culture, most of which are colonial and escapist, so one of the effective ways to counter them is to bring them to our roots and history. Our history has a lot of rich and colorful traditions and experiences (and we only need) to appreciate and make use of them for our present struggles.”
Coberos said that the arts exhibit is a way to encourage and develop more community youth-artists and even professionals to express in various art works the real world.
Alvarado said that they also aim to raise funds to sponsor the schooling of out-of-school youth in their district and train more potential young artists to sustain the alternative art movement. He said that their art works will be toured in other areas to draw more interest for alternative and indigenous arts. Bulatlat
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