Great Igorot Digital Arts

“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”

I saw this first in Dan's Blog. Take a look at these digital art works by one “Squeegool” of DeviantArt.com. Take a look at how beautiful and remarkable we are portrayed by a foreigner (I think so.) Sometimes, we are only reminded of who we are (and our roots) from the eyes and expressions of outsiders.

More of his works here: Squeegool's Art

'the old stock farm' Latex Painting by Valred

Brothers in the old stock farm (Wangal, LTB) Circa 1992

'Tinmungao' (Painting) by Valred

The La Trinidad Arts Society

I envy Baguio City with their Art groups and Societies. I heard that there was a time when the Baguio Arts Guild (BAG) had over five hundred members. Most of the BAG's pioneers were able to establish other popular arts societies as, the Tam-awan Village, Artists at Session, and others. BenCab, a former member, is the most successful to have built his very own museum - a feat that only some artist can dream of.

Solar Painter/Sketch Artist, Sultan came to me one Sunday to propose a project in which I gladly obliged to. I was, after all, an art lover, and an Art workshop for the kids is a very noble project. Luckily, we were able to source out funds from our barangay and were able to give the kids a very memorable experience. Nothing beats the shades and the colors. Nothing beats the feeling of creative accomplishment.

And so after the activity, he asked me if we can start 'it'. How about an Arts Society for La Trinidad? I was waiting for him to say that. :) Of course I would love that.

* Conceptualized in 2012, the La Trinidad Arts Society was established by Local Artists; Sultan Mangusan and Valred Olsim from Pico , La Trinidad, Benguet.

Sultan M.'s Igorota

Sultan Mangosan recaptures Igorota beauty with a watercolor and acrylic paint. Igorota women usually exudes inner beauty, strength, and toughness while maintaining physical attractiveness that begets love and respect from her community. The ethnic shades of red dominate the brush strokes in order to consciously delve into ethnic art.

BEnCab's: The Ifugao Man

BenCab's artistry captured Cordillera history with his painting : "The Ifugao man" 

The Igorot Solar Painter

When you visit Tam-awan village, dubbed as "the garden in the sky", at Baguio city, you will most probably meet a middle-aged person with a necklace of animal bones and sporting a "Pacquiao-facial hair". If he is riding a 'tatooed' volks (when he is not using his bicycle), he should be Mr. Jordan Mang-osan; a genius, a multi-awarded artist,  an indigenous people's culture vanguard, a very nice person, and most important of all...my neighbor (hehe, a few houses from mine).He was trained and influenced greatly by the senior artists of Tam-awan group, but it is Santiago Bosi (his mentor) who has  made a great impact in his life, it is from him whom he learned Solar Drawing.

His main tools for creating his art are very simple; a magnifying glass, a piece of wood, creativity, and the heat of the sun (some call the process, pyrography). In a competition in the US, his legend became an inspiration when he was the only one who was excused to get out from the art competition hall to proceed to the top of the tower because his medium is the 'sun'. I actually laughed when they told me this.

Just like most senior artists, he is  very willing and eager to share his craft, he makes sure that the art and culture in Baguio and Cordillera will be preserved during their time and be passed on to the next generation. I once wanted to be like him, until my father told me that I can't live with art. You see, one of his earliest painting was at my grandfather's house which he made when he was just a teenager. That collage sketch with patches of green paint has proven that he has the talent to become not just a national artist, but an international one.

For Jordan though, the cordilleran culture  remains in the heart of his works. As he cited, “My inspiration is to promote and share our cordillera culture. This is the only way we can share it, thru art”.

Jordan Mang-Osan was named as the most outstanding artist back in 1994 and the awards and recognition kept on coming, not just from here but from from Asia, US and other countries. Just recently, he was all over the news again when he was working with paintings of the boxer Manny Pacquiao. His ingenuity, and the uniqueness of his artwork made him recognizable here and abroad.

Jordan with his recent works.

Actually, you can add him up at Facebook. :)