CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle expressed his appreciation to famed artist Willy Layug for the latter’s contribution to ecclesiastical art during Monday's launching of the book on the life and works of Pampanga's most celebrated ecclesiastical artist.
Tagle was guest of honor during the launching that was attended by people from the local art scene as well as ecclesiastical art enthusiasts.
The 200 plus page book showcases the works of Layug for the past decades as well as his recent accomplishments like the images for the Papal visit of Pope Francis and other images and retablos in different parts of the country and the world.
Tagle, who wrote a message for the book, said that the life of Layug is a story of the life of an artist modelled by the culture and traditions of his native place, Betis in Guagua, Pampanga and the works of local masters and the European maestros of the early centuries.
“Competent art critiques will be able to delineate the uniqueness and mastery in Willy's works. For me the outstanding quality of his sacred sculptures and retablos is their ability to move the people to prayer, to reach out to the divine, to that which can bring them close to God,” Tagle added.
Author Laya Boquiren said that the book is a contribution to the efforts of documenting Filipino arts and crafts. The book chronicles the works of Layug for the past 40 years. The book is also a catalogue of Layug’s many works all over the country and abroad. His works could be seen as far as Minadanao and even in Rome.
The book already went on two successful soft launchings at SM City Pampanga and before bishops of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.