Forum to feature precolonial Visayan art

VISAYAS indigenous tradition in sculpture will be the focus of a blended forum that will also feature an artwork depicting the victory at Mactan 500 years ago.

“Gahi! 500 Years of the Victory at Mactan,” a panel discussion on precolonial Visayas art and less-known fun facts on the Battle of Mactan, will be held on April 25, 2021, 1:30 p.m. at Palm Grass The Cebu Heritage Hotel’s Kapihan ni Lumaya.

The free event will feature the “Sangka sa Mactan” wood relief by sculptor and University of San Carlos Fine Arts professor Radel Paredes.

Ahmed Cuizon, book author of Lapu-Lapu City history, will tackle less-known fun facts about the Battle of Mactan.

Fine Arts professor Jay Nathan Jore of the University of the Philippines-Cebu College of Communication, Art and Design will focus on the prehispanic Visayas sculpture as described by European chroniclers such as Antonio Pigafetta, Fr. Francisco Alcina, Fr. Pedro Chirino and the Boxer Codex. The Spaniards saw that natives in the Visayas practiced wood sculpture, stonecraft and metalcraft.

Radel Paredes will look into how contemporary artists are trying to rediscover their roots and rid themselves of colonial mentality while staying relevant in the global arena.

“The Artist’s Warrior,” a video on the making of the “Sangka sa Mactan” sculpture, created by Social Communications Asia’s Prospero Laput, will also be screened.

Cebuano visual artist Celso Pepito of the Cebu Artists Inc. (CAI) and Christine Rom of ArtCebu will give their reactions.

There will also be a trivia quiz on the Battle of Mactan.

The event, supported by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Quincentennial Committee, UP Cebu Department of Fine Arts, ArtCebu, Cebu Artists Inc. and the Diyandi Heritage Center, will be livestreamed at www.facebook. com/PalmGrass and on the social media pages of partner organizations. /