National Artist Imao and modern Mindanao art at SM City Cagayan De Oro
Known as the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, and the rest of Northern Mindanao, offers golden opportunities for the arts to flourish in the region. Its natural attractions and rich heritage that bring together its indigenous communities, Christian settlers and Maranao Muslims lay the groundwork for an exciting cultural exchange.
Groups like the Oro Arts Guild and schools with a strong focus on the arts and humanities have further enhanced the appreciation for culture in the area. The latter include the Jesuit run Xavier University, as well as those that offer Arts and Design courses like the Liceo de Cagayan University and the Mindanao State University, which have nurtured to a new generation of artists. This is what mallgoers discovered when “My City, My SM, My Art” recently made a stop at SM City Cagayan de Oro.
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 Productions, “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.
And the participating artists had, in the words of Oscar Floirendo, “a grand time for interaction and fellowship; looking forward to future collaborations and possibilities.” Toym Imao, whose works were exhibited alongside those of his father National Artist Abdulmari Imao, said that while his dad was not really from the city, he felt it was a homecoming of sorts, as “some of the artists have met and worked with him. I was grateful for their stories about my father.”
“If he were still alive, my dad would have been very excited about this exhibit,” he adds. “He used to judge competitions and always raved about the talent and creativity beyond Metro Manila. The works of the CDO-based participants validates this. There is an abundance of talent here.”
With art as the backbone of humanity, Michelle Lua says that “bringing art to the masses is a well-nurtured seed. Thank you, SM, for making this a reality.” Jericho Vamenta is equally grateful that “SM has made art reach everyone, and made it possible for appreciation and further involvement with its audience.”
No less than Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno graced the launch together with Department of Tourism Region 10 director Catalino “Butch” Chan III, DTI provincial director Eliza Pabillore, City Investments and Promotions officer Eileen San Juan, and City Tourism Council chair Dorothy Jean Pabayo. SM SVP for Marketing Communications Group Millie Dizon and SM regional operations manager for Mindanao 2 Michael Obsiana warmly welcomed them.
Guests enjoyed the program, which included an AVP presentation hosted by Tito Monterde, featuring the master artists of Cagayan and their amazing works. These works were exhibited in around the My Art Gallery, which was inspired by the Maranao House.
These included Oro Arts Guild leader and mixed-media artist Oscar Floirendo; young visual Artist Michael Bacol; visual and performance artist and museum curator Nicolas Aca, Jr.; and figurative artist Errol Balcos whose works reflect social realism and contemporary issues. Manobo Master, artist Pennessencio “Nonoy” Estarte also participated, as did some of the city’s exciting young artists. These included Christopher Gomez whose works capture the rawness of his experiences; Michelle Lua whose artistic journey has taken her to the city streets and to the mountains of Bukid- non to document folkloric materials; and Jericho Vamenta whose works are visual narratives.
The highlight of the program was a tribute to the late National Artist for Sculpture, Abdulmari Asia Imao whose works were exhibited alongside those of his son Toym.
National Artist Abdulmari Asia Imao was born in 1936 in Siasi Island in Sulu, but spent most of his developing years in Pata, Jolo.
Growing up, the young Abdulmari was immersed in what would eventually become his enduring subjects: the organic richness of his surroundings, as well as the colorful patterns and ornaments of Mindanao.
As a child, his initial foray into art involved sketching figures on banana leaves using a bamboo shoot. He would have embarked on the same trade of boatbuilding as his father and uncles if not for a ship transformed into a floating exhibition of Philippine masters that docked on the island. Looking at those artists’ work, he got a glimpse of an alternative to the life he knew.
The curator Tomas Bernardo, impressed by the young man’s drawings, convinced Imao to sail to Manila and apply for a government scholarship. And off he went to his destiny, the auspicious sarimanok on his shoulder.
As a painter and a sculptor, Imao fused traditional Islamic design with Modernist patterns, resulting in vivid works that yearn for local color and the dream of a unified nation.
Known for his unique adaptation of traditional Mindanaoan motifs — the ukkil (a sinuous relief woodcarving tradition found in houses and boats), the naga (or sea serpent motif), pako
rabong (fern motif), and the sarimanok (the mythical bird with fish figure), Imao persevered to continue the carving and painting traditions of his Tausug forebearers with a more modern sensibility by combining these motifs with Cubism.
The recipient of numerous awards for his works, he was conferred the Order of National Artist for sculpture in 2006.
Toym Imao also showcased his works during the event. For Toym, art is in the blood. He counts as his inspiration his father, the National Artist, and his mother, a gallery curator and art connoisseur.
As a sculptor and painter, most of Toym’s works are found in public spaces, as he is mostly commissioned to create historical monuments and shrines. His public artworks are always accomplished with masterful craftsmanship and display historical depth and architectural strength.
He is also one of a handful of Filipino sculptors who are experts in the lost-wax method of bronze casting. With his pounded brass technology, he is able to create metal sculptures that are not stiff, full of details and movement.
Toym’s works can be found in major cities in the Philippines, Vietnam, the US and Europe.
With its aim of bringing art and people together, “My City, My SM, My Art” also conducted a coffee painting workshop by Christian Gesta for the students of Xavier University, COC Phinma, AMA Computer, Mindanao University of Science and Technology ( MUST) and Pilgrim Christian College. Deciri Beione Tharyn Brana won the top prize, for which she received P5,000 worth of gift certificates.
“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 Naga.