ONE great man asks, how does the art relate with science and technology? Can somebody with eyes to see find beauty in the works of man?
Charles Eames, famous designer and architect, has created an abstract aluminum design which he entitled “Solar Toy.” At the touch of the sunbeam, the lightweight aluminum parts glide into swirling movements. Motors turn, wheels revolve, pistons rise and fall and all the hues of the rainbow flash in the sunlight.
And so if one thinks of motors, wheels, pistons, IC’s, PC board, and all techie gadgets, one may not relate these with the arts. But the ECE4 taking up Humanities class have transcended the limitations set by their electronics and communication engineering course and have come up with their own sets of artworks- painting, mosaic, photography, sculpture and miniature architectural designs. So what better word did they come up with their art exhibit but “Transcend”?
“Transcend”, it is, as the ECE4 “allowed the meanings of their art works to be obvious” in their display at the student lounge of their school, Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)-Visayas, last March 4 and 5, 2010, in connection with the University’s 33rd Foundation Anniversary.
Photographs of different kinds, from still life to sceneries to action shots; mosaic, using different media, from shells, to glass, to crushed rocks, tiles, discs and paper; sculptures, using wax, terra cotta, junks; miniature architectural designs using fiber glass, styrofoams, paper, wood; and sketches and paintings using watercolor, pastels, lead, charcoal, and ballpoint pens.
The exhibit was formally opened by no other than the President of the whole TUP system, Dr. Olympio V. Caparas, Prof. Moises M. Bonache, the Visayas Campus Director, and guests from TUP-Manila and TUP Taguig. After the inspiring message of Prof. Bonache encouraging the student-artists to pursue their artistic talents, the visitors were entertained with musical renditions by representatives from different sections.
In as much as music is also a form of the arts, an a capella number, a banduria score, and a guitar-led rendition were performed by the ECE4 students to the guests’ delight. After presenting a token of ballpoint-pen sketch to Prof. Bonache, and a mosaic of colored shots to Dr. Caparas, the students then led the way for the visitors to take a closer look to their artworks.
So how does electronics and communication engineering meet the arts? Art and beauty are just but present in many science – and-technology- things in this world- in a jet plane high above, a powerful rocket hurtling into orbit, the design and color of a mobile phone casing, the size of a Mac notebook, the packaging and coloring of a flash drive, or a compact disc, the lustrous surface and pleasing contours of a spoon or a fork, or the rich leather of a shoe.
Our twenty-first century world is filled with thousands of small and big machines from which we can find beauty. Designers and manufacturers of gadgets and devices combine structural improvements and eye-appealing designs to please the prospective buyers. Of course, we always consider that design should redound to efficient operation. Functional efficiency should always be related with art quality.
So, when some people feel that real beauty is found only in the hand-painted picture or the hand-sculptured object, let’s pause and take a closer look. There is beauty in many machines and gadgets, mechanized conveyances, or devices around us. You will find it in a car, train, an airplane, the phone, the boat, the kitchen mixer, the personal computer, and all. Clean flowing lines, smooth unified forms, interesting, appropriate proportions and visually emphasized color, size and designs. Pardon the monicker, but much as there is “beauty in the beast,” there is also beauty in science. The artworks of the ECE4 of TUPV have said it in their art exhibit, Transcend.” Look, then, and differentiate, and “transcend” the ordinary from the fine.
By the way, the Tapulanga Foundation is organizing SILAY SUMMER WORKSHOP 2010 on April 12 to May 7, 2010 with fun classes like children and teenager acting, hip-hop dancing, music, basic drawing and painting, arts and craft. If you want to nurture your child’s talents and hope to make them more productive this summer, you can just call St. Francis Assisi School at Hda. Tinihaban, and look for Micmic Abello-Golez, Exec. Director , Tapulanga Foundation, Inc., #28 Generoso-Gamboa St., Silay City, Neg. Occ. 6116 Philippines or email her at: info@tapulanga.org or call her at tel. nos.: 63.920.951.4232 or 63.34.495.0936 or 63.917.300.9381 .