Spearheaded by The Manila Times in partnership with the Intramuros Administration and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the painting exhibit titled “Intramuros on Canvas” saw a successful launch at The Manila Times College Multipurpose Hall on July 1.
An on-the-spot painting project which gathered 118 artists, “Intramuros on Canvas” saw them going around different parts of the Walled City in search for a subject and inspiration, in turn reinterpreting these through their personal art style. The event did not just support Filipino artists, but highlighted Intramuros as a creative and cultural destination.
Present at the exhibit opening were The Manila Times President and CEO Dante “Klink” Ang 2nd , Intramuros Administration Chief Guiller Asido, NCCA Head of National Committee of Visual Arts Egai Fernandez, art mentor of the late President Cory Aquino and Intramuros on Canvas exhibit curator Jeff Consumo, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran-Manila Mohammad Jafarimalak, Jarakimalak’s wife and top calligrapher Tandis Taghavi and The Manila Times team.
“[Klink and I] met a month ago and we basically decided that maybe it’s time for people to really appreciate Intramuros in a new light,” shared Asido at the opening program. “Our vision really is for Intramuros to be the creative hub of the country. Everything started here, so why not? The revival of the arts should also be started in Intramuros.
“For this project, we wanted to highlight also the creativity aspect of Intramuros. Another reason for artists to visit is to do their own open sketches inside Intramuros,” continued Asido in a separate interview with The Manila Times.
“Maganda yung like for example, Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral yung favorite subjects, pero nabigyan ng bagong interpretations ng iba’t ibang artists. Gusto namin makita nila from another perspective,” he further noted.
At the newly opened Intramuros Museum, Asido is open to accepting the works after July 20.
“If we can select, puwede namin ilagay doon. We can exhibit them para ma-highlight siya.”
Since it opened, the museum has been garnering an average of 200 to 300 visitors daily, according to Asido. “With that, nakikita na namin yung significant interest toward history and culture.”
Moreover, the Intramuros Administration is already in the planning stages of more art-related projects tentatively called “Art in the Walls” inspired by Makati’s “Art in the Park,” among other infrastructure programs and the first conservation management plan.
Intramuros in a new light
An exhibit eyecatcher is one by Nestor Ong, a painter whose style and themes center around steampunk. After studying architecture at the University of Santo Tomas, Ong then worked in advertising for global companies. He has since retired, instead focusing on painting, freelance graphic design work and teaching.
Using acrylic on canvas, Ong’s piece titled “Discoursing on the Relevance of Intramuros as the Main Protagonist in the Continuing Saga of the Post-modern Steampunk Revolution,” presents Intramuros in an unconventional way.
“Steampunk is a postmodern genre na nangyari lang 10 years ago sa Europe at sa US. Dito hindi pa kilala. Tayo kasing mga Pilipino mga landscape, ibon, koi. Ako, I’m trying to come up with something [different]. Since 2010, I was already doing steam punk,” Ong explained to The Manila Times.
“Steampunk kasi it’s supposed to be an altered history, it’s supposed to happen nung 1900, nung wala pang kuryente. Ang source of energy natin was steam, kaya yung mga tao in the steam punk universe, lahat nakasuot ng gas mask.”
Ong’s painting combined famous Intramuros landmarks in the background such as Aduana, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church. A feature that makes the painting interesting, however, is the steampunk characters, one of which is Mickey Mouse.
“Aside from the usual work that I dig, I always hijack Walt Disney, yung mga gawa niya. I want to hijack my childhood into something so I put it in my own universe ngayon as steampunk. This time, sabi ko, I’m going to put Mickey Mouse as the one discoursing the relevance of Intramuros dito sa mga taong-ibon.”
Asked why Intramuros should remain a prime tourist and creative destination, Ong answered, “Dapat talaga we should give importance to Intramuros. Masyado tayong pop-oriented — nakikita natin yung today, we never look back sa nakaraan.”
“Intramuros on Canvas” is on view at The Manila Times College Multipurpose Hall, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila until July 20, free of charge.
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