Artists meet artifacts in ‘Kislap-Diwa’

Twenty-four visual artists and poets interact with cultural heritage in KislapDiwa: 12 Pagtatagpo ng Gunita sa Pamánang Pambansa, spearheaded by National Artist for literature Virgilio S. Almario

The Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo and the Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas created an avenue for Filipino artists to interact with each other and with objects deemed important in Philippine cultural heritage and history.

Kislap-Diwa: 12 Pagtatagpo ng Gunita sa Pamánang Pambansa (Insights: 12 Interactions of Memory on National Heritage), held in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Museum of the Philippines and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, was spearheaded by National Artist for literature Virgilio S. Almario in celebration of the National Heritage Month and with the aim of deepening awareness on and appreciation of cultural heritage and history among participants. Twelve poets and 12 visual artists were invited for a tour of the National Museum of Anthropology and National Museum of Natural History on 22 May, where they listened to an introductory lecture about heritage, archaeological efforts and their relevance to nation-building by professor Felipe M. de Leon Jr. After the short lecture, they were guided around the museum and they gathered together to discuss their reactions and insights about their museum experience.

The participants were broken into 12 pairs of one artist and one poet, each with an assigned artifact to discuss. They were to write poems or create artworks based on their interactions with the artifacts. The resulting works will be exhibited in August in time for the NMP’s 122nd founding anniversary.

The 12 visual artists were Kora DandanAlbano, Pandy Aviado, Manuel Baldemor, Salvador Ching, Fil Delacruz, Alfredo Esquillo, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Manny Garibay, Toym Leon Imao, Mark Justiniani, Celeste Lecaroz and Eric Roca. The 12 poets were Agatha Palencia-Bagares, RR Cagalingan, Michael Coroza, Mikael De Lara Co, Vim Nadera, Aldrin Pentero, Nicholas Pichay, Noel del Prado, Fidel Rillo, Edgar Calabia Samar, Joey Tabula and Enrique S. Villasis.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF NCCA THE participating poets and visual artists at the National Museum with National Artist Virgilio S. Almario.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MERVIN CONCEPCION VERGARA ALMARIO looking at the late Neolithic period Manunggul Jar, a National Cultural Treasure.