I wear many hats but foremost, I am a visual artist and curator for ManilART, the National Art Fair of NCCA and the Annual Sculpture Review (ASR). I am also a humanitarian worker, a corporate executive and a resource speaker.
Born in Taguig, I first obtained a degree in BS Psychology at the Far Eastern University with further study at the University of Toronto, and an MBA at the Ateneo de Manila University. Furthermore, I completed an online course in curation at Sotheby’s Institute of Arts.
My father moved me to Canada in 1980 because of my involvement in student activism against the Marcos regime. I came back to the Philippines in 1994 to join in the family business. I found my true calling with art when Gallery Nine owner Atty. Amy Loste invited me to exhibit my collections of hobby creations of Ostrich Egg carvings in 2007.
Today, I head the National Committee in Art Galleries of the NCCA with ManilART and Mindanao Art Fair as our flagship projects.
What inspired you to become an artist?
For me it was more of a calling, a product of mid-life crisis if you will. I was never an artist before 2007. I experienced deep financial crisis in early 2000 and my energy was focused on creating something and anything, like crafts for sale to augment my income. Until I was invited by Dante Ang II in his farm and gifted me with a dozen ostrich egg shell. I carved these egg shells and the rest is history.
What was your first exhibit like?
My first solo exhibition was in 2007 entitled “Whimsy”. It was presented with a “bang” invited art collectors, art critics and there were lots of media features. National artist Napoleon Abueva commented that, “Your works are very unique and beautiful. You deserve a place in our industry.” My first solo exhibit was rather exciting because it was a “sold out” show. This was followed by “Pananampalataya” in 2008, again it sold out. In subsequent years, I joined various back to back and group exhibits in Sculpture Review and Manilart. In 2016, I was the featured artist of Manilart. My Ostrich Egg sculptures had been exhibited in London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.
What are you currently working on?
I am preparing for Manilart 2020. This is again a collaborative works with my two best friends in the industry. Kublai Millan and Agi Pagkatipunan. This would complete the trilogy works of the three artists of disparate medium and the plan is to make a commemorative book on the trilogy show; and the ASR.
What is your process like?
Conceptualization takes more of my time. I work on minute details. It will take me 4 to 7 days to finish one egg using a specialized carving tool, similar to what the dentist is using.
What was the most valuable thing you learned doing your art?
I am a self-taught artist. My appreciation of art has always been from a distance, as I never really had a formal art education except for some workshop I took as a hobbyist. I learned one thing that I believe let me get by as an artist – ATTACK! That is to deal with art with reckless abandon, just do it, make mistakes, make more mistakes. If you make mistake in art nobody is going get hurt, unlike other professions, if you make a mistake someone may get hurt, imprisoned, lose a lot of money or even death. In art you can always undo, redo, discard, start all over again.
What is your favorite piece you’ve created?
My favorite piece is “Retablo de la Divina Misericordia” a collection of my favorite saints carved in ostrich egg in a retablo I also designed. IT’S A PERSONAL COLLECTION
What is your favorite piece by another artist?
I’ve always been fascinated by the works of Michelangelo. When I saw his works in person in Italy (La Pieta and David), I thought it was the ultimate in sculpture.
Why do you work in the medium that you do?
Niching! My medium is perhaps one of the most unique in Philippine sculpture today. I have taken the traditional African craft of ostrich egg and elevated in into fine art with intricate carvings and chiseling. Depicting figures and patterns both original and derivative folk iconography, I weave metal & wood crafting and egg carving together to create a unique pieces that showcase truly Filipino aesthetics.
I can also paint, but there are one million and one geniuses in painting, nobody would notice my works. But with ostrich egg, if you see an ostrich egg art, people immediately associate it with my name. Until today I still hold the “nagiisang ostrich egg artist ng Pilipinas” title as featured on TV.
What is your favorite place to create in?
My alone time and space at home is my favorite place to create. The most difficult part in creation is the conceptualization. Once you pass that stage execution or the actual carving is easy.