BenCab and Shell Support Emerging ArtistsBy Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman
Published: May 13, 2013
Article from http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=11657&sid=3&subid=17#.UZDNxIKKz6E
Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, famously known as BenCab, walks across his own museum sans the air of arrogance, as if the National Artist for Visual Arts in Painting has only started his career. On the contrary, he has been in the art industry for almost four decades. His BenCab Museum fittingly personifies him—creative, low key, influential, tranquil. These characteristics reflect the artist’s beautiful artworks that depict simple yet sublime masterpieces.
His brushstrokes, left, right, up, down, are easy on the eyes, colorful, sometimes black and white. His iconic pieces include his series of paintings of ‘Sabel’, a lady scavenger who marked his consciousness as a symbol of desolation and peace. For a time, BenCab’s works resonated the country’s colonial history and current state.
One of his early works recalls a vivid childhood spent in places like Sta. Cruz and Bambang in Manila, where the reality of poverty opened his eyes to social issues and possible sources of inspirations that he embodied in his painting. Take for instance, ‘Blue Serenity’, which depicted a shanty community along a river with a man on a boat.
The said piece was a second prize winner at the 12th Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) in 1962. During those earlier days, he used the bamboo-as-brush technique, which is reminiscent of Balinese art.
“‘Blue Serenity’ is a quiet painting,” the 71-year old reserved master painter says. Too bad the painting is not within the confines of BenCab museum. He also says he has been buying and regaining his previous artworks from other collectors.
Now, his collections range from Cordillera’s bulols, erotic paintings and sculptures, print photography, and installations that are all showcased in his museum, which stands amid the pristine and lush forest in Benguet. The four-storey art gallery serves as BenCab’s sanctuary for inspirations and other endeavors.
Currently, the still youthful-looking artist says he finds himself doing sculptures and figurines, which is a total opposite of painting that requires solo execution and seamless union of one’s own skills, muses, and hand strokes.
“Sometimes you can’t explain an artwork, you just feel it,” the soft spoken BenCab shares. “When an artwork provokes people’s emotions like in reading novels, that’s when you send the message across.”
NSAC
NSAC is the longest-running art competition in the country that started in 1952. Sponsored by Shell Philippines, it has helped produce National Artists in the likes of BenCab, Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.
“This year, we recognize the growing sense of self and limitless creativity and passion for self-expression of Filipino artists. These manifestations, all geared toward leaving their mark on today’s fast-paced world, can help mold the consciousness of Filipinos for centuries to come—just as the work of other great masters have done,” NSAC organizers says in a statement.
The acceptance and recognition given to art these days has remarkably changed since BenCab’s time, “The art market is different from before, when it used to be difficult. Art market today is very active. Even students are having one-man shows. Now we have a realization that painting is a good investment,” BenCab says.
“If the feeling is to do art, it just happens,” he adds.
Evidently, younger and younger artists are finding their niche and slowly making a name for themselves in the art scene. Parallel to this, national competitions like NSAC are constantly searching for future artisans who will create imprints on society and will be immortalized as influencers of future artists.
Also, NSAC recently sponsored an art workshop for students and aspiring artists with none other than BenCab himself, together with moderator/artist Renato Habulan and other previous NSAC winners at the BenCab Museum. The one-day interaction was an exchange of insights between established and budding artists.
Moreover, an artist is still his own master, with own sense and style. As for BenCab, he is his own man. Perhaps, this is the lesson for the young: create an imprint, an insignia of your own, be your own master.
The 46th NSAC is looking for artists who can join in the four open-themed categories: oil/acrylic, watercolor, sculpture, and digital fine arts. Each participant can submit a maximum of two entries across all categories. Metro Manila contestants can submit their entries from July 4-6 at the Shell House, Salcedo Village, Makati. Provincial entries meanwhile can submit artworks from June 26-28 at designated Shell provincial depots and installations.
For more details check www.shell.com.ph/shell_art
Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman
Published: May 13, 2013
Article from http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=11657&sid=3&subid=17#.UZDNxIKKz6E
Published: May 13, 2013
Article from http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=11657&sid=3&subid=17#.UZDNxIKKz6E