ART Made in Public made its rounds in Davao last March 1, 2018, in partnership with SM Supermalls, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the United Architects of the Philippines, and MADE Network of Winners (MADE N.O.W).
The exhibit opening featured a lecture series headed by Filipino multi-media artist Mr. Abdulmari Imao Jr. who excels in both sculpture and painting. Spanning an art career of more than 30 years, his works can be found in major cities in the Philippines, Vietnam, the USA and Europe.
Imao first trained in the arts under Philippine National Artists for the Visual Arts Napoleon V. Abueva and Abdulmari Asia Imao (his father). His formal training came from the University of the Philippines (B.S. Architecture, Masters in Fine Arts) and Maryland Institute College of Arts (M.A. Sculpture) under a Fulbright Scholarship.
He started his career as an architectural designer and public art sculptor, designing and building monuments and shrines. Certainly, his architectural skills are indispensable as he builds more than life-sized statues and public art installations. He has been recognized widely for his contributions in the field of Sculpture. During the talk, he discussed the creative process and infusion of Islamic design aesthetics in his installation art. The spaces that he built and shapes infuse art issues, social realities, protest art and showcase contemporary rendition of Maranao aesthetics inbuilt contemporary environment.
The event also featured a lecture on MASJID, by the project director of The Met Rehabilitation and Conservation Project, Dr. Gerard Rey Lico. He is an architect, academician, and art historian. Lico is a professor at the College of Architecture University of the Philippines, Diliman both in the undergraduate and graduate program.
He formerly chaired the Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. For his research work in architectural history and cultural studies, he was conferred the UP Gawad Chancellor para sa Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik (Arts and Humanities) in the years 2002, 2004 and 2005, installing him to its Hall of Fame. He was one of the recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2004 and conferred as a University Artist of the University of the Philippines in 2009.
Held every February of the year and now on its 7th year, the Art MADE Public is a nationwide travelling exhibition back to back with a lecture series of the Metrobank Art & Design Excellence. This program aims to spread awareness on Philippine art and design by bringing the experience of art appreciation to various public spaces.
This year’s topic is” Masjid/ Mosque Architecture: Jewels of Philippine Islamic Faith” – an exhibit that features over 30 mosques, showing the anatomy of Islamic architecture and their aesthetic principles. Some of the mosques featured are the Masjid Kulawi and Ganasi Grand Mosque in Lanao del Sur, Bacolod Grand Mosque, Masjid Lumboc and Masjid Raya Suduc of Marawi City. Datu Untong Balabaran and the Haron Rasjid Mosque, both located in Maguindanao are also included in the exhibition together with the Masjid Abas Datu Odin Sinsuat
Present during the event were SM Lanang Premier Mall Manager, Engr. Nick Santos, Mr. Alexander C. Untal, VP/AH Metrobank Mindanao Area I, Ar. Cesar Aljama, Executive Director for Commission on Professional Practice, United Architects of the Philippines, AR. Virgilio Andres Jr., Executive Director for Professional Development Commission, United Architects of the Philippines, Ar. Illuminado V. Quinto, Jr., Dean of College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao and Ms. Brenda V. Barba, Chairperson of School of Fine Arts & Design, Philippine Women’s College-Davao
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