Cover Aguilar's earlier study of "Ang Babaylan", dated 1996
Aguilar's earlier study of "Ang Babaylan", dated 1996
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On a momentous occasion, Rosendo "Roy" Aguilar mounts a retrospective exhibition, spanning 40 years' worth of memorable works
Coinciding with the Masskara Festival last October, Negros Museum mounts a retrospective exhibition of the works and legacy of Rosendo "Roy" Aguilar, one of the Negros' most prominent living artists.
Amidst the city-wide blackout the previous day, the "Vista Negrense: Retrospect + After Image" solo exhibition for Aguilar officially opened on October 16. At the ceremonial ribbon cutting, Aguilar was joined by Dr Maria Cecilia Locsin-Nava (representative of the late National Artist Ramon Muzones), Sister Joan Brigida Corazon S Infante (president of La Consolacion College Bacolod), Carlo Gabriel Pangilinan (FAMAS Best Director Award recipient in 2019 for his film Tanabata's Wife and senior lecturer from UP Diliman), and Relina Jimenez (representative of The Negros Museum).
The artist with Dr. Cecil Nava, Relina Jimenez, Sister Joan Infante, and Carlo Gabriel Pangilinan
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The Negros Museum also held an artist talk in a hybrid setup between artists, art educators, and the youth the following day, October 17. Participated by a total of 143 students from various universities online and 56 students on-site, the event tackled Aguilar's journey as a cultural worker, and how he started as an artist, and also touched on the role of artists as local historians, bearing truth and social justice in their works.
The Vista Negrense Artist Talk at The Negros Museum was organized by Forem Digital in partnership with UP Pi Sigma Fraternity.
Read also: Crossing Borders: Some of the Must-Visit Art Spaces and Galleries Outside NCR
Original 1990 Masskara Festival Poster Lithographic Print by Roy Aguilar
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Aguilar is a multi-awarded Visayan artist who served as the editorial cartoonist of the Visayan Daily Star. For 34 years, he has been a faculty member of the Fine Arts department of La Consolacion College Bacolod. He is very much known for his obra maestra, the historical mural titled Ang Babaylan.
As a child, Aguilar spent his childhood in his hometown in La Castellana by recreating 1960s films as charcoal drawings on cemented streets. At the age of 14, he moved to Sampaloc, Manila to study and work. His innate talent in art and illustration helped him survive in his younger years. He would create hand-drawn greeting cards and accept art projects from his classmates and teachers so he would have money to buy food, clothing, and art materials. His early exposure to Fine Art was when he roamed around Ermita, Manila’s hub for small galleries and printing houses. Eventually, he was hired as an illustrator and ceramic designer at Paglaum State College Ceramic Center in Bacolod while formally studying Fine Arts, majoring in Advertising at La Consolacion.
He has won various local and national state-sponsored art competitions such as that of The Design Center of the Philippines.
Roy, an active member of the Art Association of Bacolod, participated in group shows before he had his 1st Visayan-themed solo art exhibition which earned him the highest sales award in the early 90s.
At present, he is painting full-time and continues to advocate for art education, preservation and socio-cultural sensitivity through art as one of the founding members and the current Historian of the Art Association of Bacolod.
Above "Ang Babaylan", 1996, oil on canvas
"Ang Babaylan", 1996, oil on canvas
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This four-month solo exhibition featuring scenes of Negros from the past and present, painted by the renowned social realist and art educator of Negros will be available for viewing until January 2023 at the JGM Gallery of the Negros Museum.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
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Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
