NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR

VISUAL ARTS
1. FERNANDO C. AMORSOLO. HE WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL ARTIST IN THE
COUNTRY. THE OFFICIAL TITLE "GRAND OLD MAN OF PHILIPPINE ART" WAS
BESTOWED ON AMORSOLO WHEN THE MANILA HILTON INAUGURATED ITS
ART CENTER ON JANUARY 23, 1969, WITH AN EXHIBIT OF A SELECTION OF
HIS WORKS. HE WAS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS BACKLIGHTING TECHNIQUE IN
PAINTING. HIS MAJOR WORKS INCLUDE "DALAGANG BUKID," "EL CIEGO,"
"THE MESTIZA," "MAIDEN IN A STREAM" AND "PLANTING RICE."

2. Hernando R. Ocampo. His works provided an understanding and awareness of the

harsh social realities in the country immediately after the Second World War and
contributed significantly to the rise of the nationalist spirit in the post-war era. It was,
however, his abstract works that left an indelible mark on Philippine modern art. His
canvases evoked the lush Philippine landscape, its flora and fauna, under the sun and
rain in fierce and bold colors. He also played a pivotal role in sustaining the Philippine
Art Gallery, the country's first. Ocampo's acknowledged masterpiece Genesis served
as the basis of the curtain design of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main
Theater. His other major works include Ina ng Balon, Calvary, Slum Dwellers and Nude
with Candle and Flower.
REVIVED THE FORGOTTEN ART OF MURAL AND REMAINED ITS MOST DISTINGUISHED
PRACTITIONER FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES. IN PANELS SUCH AS THOSE THAT GRACE THE
CITY HALL OF MANILA, FRANCISCO TURNED FRAGMENTS OF THE HISTORIC PAST INTO
VIVID RECORDS OF THE LEGENDARY COURAGE OF THE ANCESTORS OF HIS RACE. HE WAS
INVARIABLY LINKED WITH THE "MODERNIST" ARTISTS, FORMING WITH VICTORIO C.
EDADES AND GALO OCAMPO WHAT WAS THEN KNOWN IN THE LOCAL ART CIRCLES AS
"THE TRIUMVIRATE". HIS MAJOR WORKS INCLUDE, "BLOOD COMPACT " "FIRST MASS OF
LIMASAWA," AND THE "INVASION OF LIMAHONG."

4. Guillermo E. Tolentino. He is a product of the Revival period in Philippine art.

Returning from Europe (where he was enrolled at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Rome)
in 1925, he was appointed as professor at the UP School of Fine Arts where the idea also
of executing a monument for national heroes struck him. The result was the UP Oblation
that became the symbol of freedom at the campus. Acknowledged as his masterpiece
and completed in 1933, The Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan stands as an enduring
symbol of the Filipinos' cry for freedom. Other works include the bronze figures of
President Quezon at Quezon Memorial, life-size busts of Jose Rizal at UP and UE, marble
statue of Ramon Magsaysay in GSIS Building; granolithics of heroic statues representing
education, medicine, forestry, veterinary science, fine arts and music at UP. He also
designed the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award and did the seal
of the Republic of the Philippines.
5. NAPOLEON ABUEVA. AT 46 THEN, HE WAS THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDEE
AND CONSIDERED AS THE FATHER OF MODERN PHILIPPINE SCULPTURE. HE HELPED SHAPE
THE LOCAL SCULPTURE SCENE TO WHAT IT IS NOW. BEING ADEPT IN EITHER ACADEMIC
REPRESENTATIONAL STYLE OR MODERN ABSTRACT, HE HAS UTILIZED ALMOST ALL KINDS
OF MATERIALS FROM HARDWOOD (MOLAVE, ACACIA, LANGKA WOOD, IPIL, KAMAGONG,
PALM WOOD AND BAMBOO) TO ADOBE, METAL, STAINLESS STEEL, CEMENT, MARBLE,
BRONZE, IRON, ALABASTER, CORAL AND BRASS. AMONG THE EARLY INNOVATIONS,
ABUEVA INTRODUCED IN 1951 WAS WHAT HE REFERRED TO AS "BUOYANT SCULPTURE" —
SCULPTURE MEANT TO BE APPRECIATED FROM THE SURFACE OF A PLACID POOL. IN THE
'80S, ABUEVA PUT UP A ONE-MAN SHOW AT THE PHILIPPINE CENTER, NEW YORK. HIS
WORKS HAVE BEEN THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK CITY.
 Other
1. VICTORIO C. EDADES National
— FATHER OF Artists
MODERN for Visual Arts
PHILIPPINE PAINTING, A LEADING FIGURE IN THE
VISUAL ART SCENE, LEADING THE REVOLUTIONARY FILIPINO MODERNISTS IN CREATING
MODERN PAINTINGS.

2. VICENTE MANANSALA — HE IS RECOGNIZED AS A PIONEER ARTIST OF TRANSPARENT CUBISM,

WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY TRANSPARENT AND TRANSLUCENT TONES, SHAPES, AND
PATTERNS OF VARIOUS SUBJECTS THAT SEEM TO BE SUPERIMPOSED OVER EACH OTHER. ONE OF
THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS HIS MASTERPIECE, THE MUSICIANS.

3. CESAR LEGASPI — FAMOUS FOR HIS ABSTRACT WORKS THAT DEPICT THE ANGUISH AND
DEHUMANIZATION OF LABORERS AND BEGGARS IN THE CITY. SOME OF HIS GREATEST WORKS
ARE MAN AND WOMAN AND GADGETS.

4. ARTURO LUZ — HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE NEO-REALIST SCHOOL IN PHILIPPINE ART BUT IS
MOST FAMOUS FOR HIS CUBIST AND MINIMALIST WORKS NOT ONLY IN PAINTING, BUT ALSO IN
SCULPTURE. HE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL SHOWS, INCLUDING THE TOKYO
PRINT BIENNIAL IN 1974 AND THE 8TH BRITISH INTERNATIONAL PRINT BIENNALE IN 1984.

5. J. ELIZALDE NAVARRO — KNOWN FOR HIS HARDWOOD MASKS, HE WAS BOTH A PAINTER AND
A SCULPTOR. IN 1967, HE REPRESENTED THE PHILIPPINES IN SAO PAOLO BIENNIAL IN BRAZIL. BE
BEGAN TO WORK AS A FULL-TIME PAINTER IN 1970. HIS STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY BRIGHT,
VIBRANT COLORS WITH ABSTRACT TO MODERNIST STYLES.

6. ANG KIUKOK — HE GAINED PROMINENCE IN THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ART SCENE
BECAUSE OF HIS UNIQUE STYLE THAT FUSED EXPRESSIONISM, SURREALISM, AND CUBISM. HIS
IMAGERY HAD BEEN DESCRIBED AS VIOLENT AND GRUESOME, WHICH CONTRASTED HIS GENTLE
AND AMIABLE PERSONALITY.
7. BENEDICTO CABRERA — HE UPHELD THE PRIMACY OF DRAWING OVER THE DECORATIVE
COLOR. HE IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER PAINTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES TODAY, WHOSE
WORKS ARE FREQUENT BESTSELLERS. HIS MUSEUM IN BAGUIO CITY FEATURES VARIOUS
GALLERIES THAT HIGHLIGHT PHILIPPINE ART AS WELL AS THAT OF THE CORDILLERA REGION, AN
INSPIRING SPECTACLE THAT ATTRACTS VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

8. ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO — HE IS THE FIRST FILIPINO MUSLIM TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION.
HIS EXPERTISE IS WORKING ON METAL BRASS CASTING AND CERAMIC SCULPTURE. HIS THEMES
ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY ISLAMIC CULTURE. HE IS KNOWN FOR INTRICATE WORKS
USING THE OKIR AND SARIMANOK DESIGNS.

9. FEDERICO AGUILAR ALCUAZ — ALCUAZ WAS A DISTINGUISHED MASTER IN CUBIST

PAINTINGS, WHICH OFTEN DEPICTED NUDE WOMEN, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPES, AND STILL LIFE.
HIS STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY BLURRED EDGES, CONTRASTED WITH HEAVY LINES AND
SHAPES.

10. FRANCISCO COCHING — ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE "DEAN OF FILIPINO ILLUSTRATORS" AND

SON OF NOTED TAGALOG NOVELIST AND COMICS ILLUSTRATOR. HE WAS REGARDED AS THE
"PILLAR OF THE PHILIPPINE KOMIKS INDUSTRY." HE WAS THE CREATOR OF ICONIC PHILIPPINE
KOMIKS CHARACTERS SUCH AS HAGIBIS, PEDRO PENDUKO, AND SABAS, ANG BARBERO.

11. JOSE T. JOYA — HE WAS THE PIONEER OF ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM IN THE PHILIPPINES. HIS
WORKS ARE STRONGLY CHARACTERIZED BY BOLD BRUSHSTROKES, QUICK GESTURES, AND
DYNAMIC SPONTANEITY.

12. LARRY ALCALA — HIS COMIC STRIPS SPICED UP THE SLICES OF FILIPINO LIVES WITH WITTY
ILLUSTRATIONS EXECUTED THROUGHOUT HIS 56 YEARS OF CARTOONING. ALCALA'S ARTWORKS
WERE STAPLES IN THE COMICS' SECTIONS OF MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND COMIC BOOKS. HIS
MOST FAMOUS CREATIONS ARE PART OF A SERIES OF ILLUSTRATIONS CALLED SLICE OF LIFE,
WHICH DEPICT SNIPPETS OF EVERYDAY LIVES OF ORDINARY FILIPINOS. BARRIO SCENES AND
 QUIZ:
1. At 46 then, he was the youngest national artist awardee and considered as the Father of Modern
Philippine Sculpture.
2. He also designed the gold and bronze medals for the Ramon Magsaysay Award and did the seal
of the Republic of the Philippines.
3. Known for his hardwood masks, he was both a painter and a sculptor.
4. First national artist in the country.
5. His comic strips spiced up the slices of Filipino lives with witty illustrations executed throughout
his 56 years of cartooning.
6. He helped establish the Neo-realist school in Philippine art but is most famous for his cubist and
minimalist works not only in painting, but also in sculpture.
7. He was invariably linked with the "modernist" artists, forming with Victorio C. Edades and Galo
Ocampo what was then known in the local art circles as "The Triumvirate”.
8. His canvases evoked the lush Philippine landscape.
9. He was the pioneer of abstract expressionism in the Philippines.
10.Famous for his abstract works that depict the anguish and dehumanization of laborers and
beggars in the city.
11. Father of Modern Philippine Painting
12. Acknowledged as the "Dean of Filipino Illustrators" and son of noted
Tagalog novelist and comics illustrator.
13. His works are strongly characterized by bold brushstrokes, quick gestures,
and dynamic spontaneity
14. Bestowed the official title "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art"
15. He is recognized as a pioneer artist of transparent cubism
16-17. Give two major works of Fernando C. Amorsolo
18-20. Major works of Carlos "Botong" Francisco