CITY of San Fernando, Pampanga’s contribution to this year’s National Arts Month Celebration culminated with a back-to-back exhibit featuring the works of Kapampangan painters Noel Lopez Catacutan and Rafael Maniago, two of our more senior artists who have made a name for themselves in the scene with their own reflective styles.
Rafael Maniago shuttles between the United States and his home in San Fernando several times a year, and is considered as one of the most productive and versatile Kapampangan painters. He uses a variety of media, ranging from watercolor to pastels, acrylic to oils, even colored pencils, and his subject matter covers a wide range of themes, but most importantly he never fails to celebrate the heritage of our daily lives and captures the Kapampangan spirit, whether with his portrayal of local farmers in the barrios, or his contemporary cityscapes that feature the calesas or sidewalk vendors.
Maniago is also a prolific portrait artist and a large number of his portraits are found at the Pampanga Provincial Capitol as he was commissioned for the official portraits of our past governors. He maintains an active social media presence, reaching out to the younger generation of artists who look up to him for inspiration and mentorship.
Noel Lopez Catacutan is based in Quezon City, has served the Art Association of the Philippines in various capacities, but never fails to come home to his hometown Minalin and his adoptive city. In his younger days, Catacutan painted the depictions of the Gospel writers on the ceiling of the Santa Monica Church, a National Cultural Treasure.
Where Maniago’s realism is reminiscent of Amorsolo, Catacutan’s interpretations are more modern takes on Kapampangan cultural life in his contemporary cubist style. His subjects are rooted in scenes from rural life, depicting our livelihood, faith, and festivities in an explosion of warm colors. His iconic masterpieces capture the church facade of Santa Monica in Minalin.
Bringing together these two Kapampangan masters in one exhibit is a celebration of creative genius for us to enjoy and to be inspired. The exhibit was opened on February 26, 2020 by no less than Mayor Edwin Santiago and the CSFP Arts, Culture, and Tourism Council chaired by Dr. Lourdes Javier. Also in attendance were Emmy Award-winning Kapampangan artist Jess Espinosa and outstanding Fernandino awardee artist Erwin Dayrit.
Meanwhile, an open house of home-based studios and art galleries took place on February 29 featuring the Pintahanan Art Gallery of Erwin Dayrit at St. Augustine Village, the Rafael Maniago Art Studio in Dolores, and the Kalinangan Telabastagan art space run by Conderlos Lingat with the help of Ronnie Tayag and other Kapampangan visual artists.