A toast to Galicano and Cebuano artistry at SM Seaside City
Cebu’s artistic tradition has its roots in folk art — basketry, as well as the handcrafting of jewelry and musical instruments. Basketry was developed by early inter-island trade, and Cebu’s world-class furniture industry today is related to this art.
The Spaniards brought with them liturgical art, which is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. Reliefs, or three-dimensional holy images, murals and paintings for altarpieces, and gold and silver vestments highlight the Cebuanos’ expressions of faith.
Painting was the first secular art that appeared here in the mid-19th century. Initially unsigned and undated, they were personal rather than professional artworks. Gonzalo Abellana of Carcar, Canuto Avila from San Nicolas, Raymundo Francia of Parian and Simeon Padriga were early painters and sculptors who actively participated in the period of transition from religious to secular art.
An important catalyst in the development of the Cebu art scene was the founding of the Cebu Art Association in 1937 by Julian Jumalong, which promoted community awareness of the visual arts as well as the exchange of ideas among artists.
Likewise, the opening of the Fine Arts Program of the University of the Philippines College Cebu, the first formal fine arts school outside of Manila, has brought dynamism to the Cebuano arts scene.
Today, Cebu has probably the largest community of artists outside of Manila, and is on its way to becoming a viable center for contemporary art.
Mallgoers recently had a glimpse of Cebu’s vibrant art scene during the premiere launch of “My City, My SM, My Art” at SM Seaside City Cebu.
A joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Shell Companies of the Philippines, and the Philippine Star with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Centerstage Produc- tions, “My City, My SM, My Art” is a celebration of Philippine visual arts — painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and filmmaking.
The campaign brings art and people together by showcasing the works of masters, modernists and millennials in a road show around the SM Supermalls. Advocating art for all, the team works with communities to mount exhibits, workshops and contests in key cities around the Philippines.
The grand launch was graced by Metropolitan Museum of Manila president Tina Colayco, NCCA executive director Marichu Tellano, world-renowned film director Brillante Mendoza of Centerstage Productions, and The Philippine STAR’s SVP for Sales and Marketing Lucien Dy-Tioco. SM Prime Holdings vice president Marissa Fernan and SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon warmly welcomed them together with SM Seaside City Cebu regional operations manager Marylou Neri.
Guests, including Elvira Lu Ym, Teresin Mendezona, Irma Atillo, Lorna Quisumbing, Franco de la Serna Quisumbing and Arts Council of Cebu executive director Mariz Rallos, enjoyed the program, which included an AVP presentation hosted by Vince Escario featuring the master artists of Cebu and their amazing works.
These included Anton Valera Quisumbing, who has become known for his bas relief replicas of Philippine churches carved in Mactan Stone, a fossilized limestone found in Mactan, Cebu. A fine arts graduate majoring in sculpture at the University of the Philippines, he handles a variety of projects ranging from monuments to commissioned works of art and has exhibited his works not only in the Philippines, but also in the Seville World Expo in Spain, as well as in Malaysia and San Francisco.
It also showcased the works of young Cebuano artists: Lhee Isabel Taneo, whose shell art highlights the versatility of the country’s indigenous materials; conceptual artist Kidlat, who is one of the founders of Cebu’s most copious street art groups, the Ubec Crew and the Junks Collective; and visual artist Wyndelle Remonde, who draws inspiration from pop art and graphic art using experimental techniques, including spray paint and silkscreen, incorporating everyday experiences into his work.
Artist and educator Dennis Montera, whose distinctly non-figurative artistic style has sustained its presence in the Philippine art scene over the past decade, as well as the Images Camera Club of Cebu, which was awarded as the Best Camera Club in the Philippines in 2012 and 2014, also exhibited their works.
The highlight of the program was a tribute to master Cebuano artist Romulo Galicano. Born to a family of artists in Carcar, the Heritage City of Cebu, Galicano studied the arts under his uncle, the realist master Martino Abellana.
Since that time, he has brought much pride to Cebu with his work and has won numerous awards, including the First Artist of the Year by GSIS Museo ng Sining in 2010, the grand prize in the International Portrait Competition, Portrait Society of America in Washington, D.C. in 2005, and Awards of Merit by the Portrait Society of America in Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. Galicano’s works were showcased in the My Art Gallery inspired by the Panay House in the Visayas.
With its aim of bringing art and people together, “My City, My SM, My Art” also conducted a printmaking workshop for students. Chelsea Mara won the top prize, for which she received P5,000 worth of gift certificates.
The Cebu stop of “My City, My SM, My Art” also highlighted the art of filmmaking with a special screening of two critically-acclaimed films at the SM Seaside City Cebu Cinema. These included Cebuano filmmaker Remton Siega Zuasola’s
Swap and Brillante Mendoza’s Taklub, both of which have won awards in film festivals abroad.
“My City, My SM, My Art” is a takeoff from the previous “My City, My SM” campaign, which promotes tourism, “My City, My SM, My Cuisine,” which highlights regional culinary specialties and “My City, My SM, My Crafts,” a celebration of traditional art and modern Philippine design in cities where SM has malls. “My City, My SM, My Art”s next stop will be in SM City Baguio.