Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Native Vasions By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
IT'S not very often that native, tribal, indigenous or aboriginal visual artists converge.
Such events rarely happen in modern society. But anything is still possible as proven by the recently concluded exhibition, “Freedom to Dream,” held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu. An Inuit artist from Canada bringing his sculptures to Cebu is an occasion not to be missed.
The exhibit focused on two cultures from different sides of the Pacific Ocean: the Philippines and Canada. While differences in craft were notable, similarities were also evidently established. Inuit art is heavy on three-dimensional forms that are usually made with stone, while some works utilize caribou antlers.
Inuit artist Mattuisi Iyaituk was on hand to explain his works. He said that Inuit art carries themes of shamanism because the belief was prevalent during the time of his ancestors.
It’s a way to make a connection with the spiritual world. Most of their artworks are inspired by wildlife because traditional Inuit life depends on nature.
They were once a nomadic people who followed the migration of herds that looked for greener pastures during the change of seasons. Mattuisi added that their art today is still made with traditional methods and techniques using the same old tools, like chisel and mallet, the way their ancestors did. Other artists were Dodo Karani Bigkas, David Ruben Piqtoukin, Marcelino Necosia Jr., Lamberto Pagalanan Acyatan, Al-Nezzar Ali and Soliman L. Poonon.
Representing native Philippine art, traditional crafts, paintings and sculptures from the Cordillera and Mindanao.
“Freedom to Dream” positioned the native artists as weavers of dreams, and as the embodiment of fertile imagination and inspiration of a certain culture.
It gave importance to native cultures, ancestral homelands and traditions.
But aside from the mere presentation of beautiful artworks, the show should have significantly addressed the present concerns and conditions facing native peoples. Full of symbolisms, native artists manifest their hopes, dreams, ambitions and aspirations through creativity.
