Saturday, May 03, 2008 Art icon brings 'Armas' to plaza
MULTI-AWARDED artist from Fabrica, Sagay Nunelucio Alvarado, stood tall bringing with him young and budding artists from different schools as he led a mural painting at the Bacolod Public Plaza to depict the plight of Negrense laborers.
They call their mural painting 'Armas', which stands for 'Artista para sa Masa'.
Alvarado said painting is a collective effort of young artists.
It was, they say, their contribution to the movement of laborers under a regime of injustice.
Alvarado, a member of the 'Black Artist in Asia,' told Sun.Star "this mural is meant to be simple and understandable."
The 'Black Artist in Asia' is a movement that articulates the muted aspirations of the weak, the downtrodden, and the victims of injustice.
"I admit a bias toward depicting the long-suffering of the downtrodden and marginalized. This is translated into an artistic style in mural painting which is characterized by less figures but replete with symbolism, leaving something for people to decide," Alvarado explained.
"Of course, you would see Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo there but others might not interpret this as the President. You know who the president is and what she had done to labor," he added.
Nevertheless, this whole thing is an initial exercise for Armas to express themselves, adding: "Everyone is invited to be a member of Armas. All forms of art, major and minor, written, spatial and non-spatial artists, who has a bias for the plight of labor, are welcome to join," he said. (GAS)
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