Tibaldo: Understanding artists from a point-of-view of one

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

COGNITIVE and affective skills are requisites for artists. What they think and how they feel resonates in their creation as rendered by their hands. In other words, it is called psycho motor skills. Artist's thinking and feeling are also influenced by their beliefs, culture, norms, core values, past life and experiences.

We artists use our eyes to look at things but the processing of images is through our brains and rendered by our hands in any format be it canvass, clay, plaster or a sheet of paper. Many artists are often observed to be weird and eccentric. They are also misunderstood by what they project and manifest. Sometimes, their dreams, visions and concepts are unimaginable. But, one thing is sure and that artists are not out to make life miserable but instead make life enjoyable, meaningful and full of surprises. Musicians turn sounds into melody. Visual artists uses paints, brushes and even computers to create interesting art pieces in varied presentations. Sculptors recreate natural forms into solid works. Dancers and theatre artists uses space, movements and gestures to interpret a story. Filmmakers exploits practically all other forms of art to produce moving pictures for everybody to appreciate in cinemas. I must also add that photographers freeze a moment in time taking advantage of lights and shadows using a camera and process it into a flat visual piece that can likewise serve as a document. Photography is a vital part of my craft and I am trying not to be too engrossed by it as I am re-establishing myself as a painter.

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Poets, writers, musicians dancers, sculptors, architects, printers and performing artists belong to what I call the creative department that also adopted photographers, filmmakers and digital artists. I found a site www.dailyorange.com in the internet and the creators came up with their top 5 misunderstood artists of the past and present. First on their list is Vincent Van Gogh of who sacrificed his ear to a prostitute named Rachel. Next to the painter of “Starry Starry Night” are couple Christo and Jean Claude who are both known for creating environmental works of art by wrapping huge subjects that includes the Reichstag in Berlin and the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris.

Third on the list is pianist Yanni whose compositions have been included in all Olympic Games television broadcasts since 1988. His music is frequently described as "new age", though he prefers the term "contemporary instrumental. Fourth of the list is filmmaker Quentin Tarantino who is best known for his revolutionary films which are claimed by www.dailyorange.com to be “always bloody and bewildering”. The fifth and last of the list is Morrissey who accordingly failed to comment on his sexual identity and use of depressing music, the popular leader of The Smiths has confused everyone including their dog. As for me, I appreciate the works of these so-called "weird" people like Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Ludwig Van Beethoven and even Lady Gaga. I encourage young film buffs to also see the films of Alfred Hitchcock.

Artist illustrators and comic book enthusiasts are expected to come to the city for a one day Comics Convention at the Baguio City National High School auditorium. The first ever comic convention in Baguio City on July 16 is expected to have Filipino illustrators like Gerry Alanguilan of both DC and Marvel Comics and other known local and international comic book personalities. In my face book account, I introduced myself with what I do saying... I connect dots, click buttons and put together bits of information. I'm not building a monument but I'd love to cement bricks of knowledge and weld ideas that people can relate with. Do drop by my cybercave and media newseum. My studio at No. 1 Sumulong Interior Road at upper Bonifacio Rd. will be on open-house starting on the afternoon of July 15 to the 17th and it will showcase special presentations about Cordillera's struggle for regional autonomy and memoirs of the July 1990 killer earthquake.