We call them Legends
SYM and Mario Parial’s pieces, all on view until March 31, demonstrate what being ‘masters’ truly means
Beyond creating masterpieces that speak to one’s truths and beliefs, the beauty and nobility, perhaps, of becoming an artist (whether one is a painter, dancer, writer, photographer, sculptor) is the legacy he will leave past his glory days, and beyond his deathbed.
In the Philippines, many great masters, dead or alive, like Vicente Manansala, F. Sionil Jose, Botong Francisco, Alice Reyes, Daisy Avellana, and Lisa Macuja, have inspired generations and genres of artists and artworks. In the ongoing exhibitions of late expressionist Mario Parial and neo-cubism painter Sofronio “SYM” Y. Mendoza, these two artists show just what it means to be considered “masters.”
image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mario-Parial2.jpg
IN HINDSIGHT
There’s Pinoy pride in Mario Parial’s paintings. He was known for his love affair with the folk arts where women, often curly haired and brown skinned, are the central figures. But he wasn’t tied to womenfolk. He also painted horses, or fishes, or men in rice fields. But all of his paintings were colorful, striking, and rife with details. There never was a blank space in a Parial canvas.
His colorful paintings speak of longing for a simple life, back when Filipinos enjoyed siesta after harvesting or an afternoon of kite flying. Also featured in the exhibit is the Pinoy’s effervescent devotion to Christianity and how it affects our everyday living and reality. Mario, it seems, was a religious man. There’s even an old bible on display at the exhibit.
The prolific artist also did printmaking and painted photographs. In an adjacent room, there is a showcase of this medium. Last year, the Globe Art Gallery featured his painted photographs, a technique where he would paint over, and sometimes even alter, a photograph, which he took with his collection of vintage cameras such as Leicas.
His life revolved around painting and printmaking, but when he had health problems in early 2000, he revived his passion for photography. Some of his vintage cameras are also on display at the exhibit. Mario passed away December 2013. But his contributions linger on.
CALL FOR CELEBRATION
His recent exhibit called “Exaltation” summarizes it all. Renowned artist Sym Mendoza has all the reasons to be happy: Having just turned 81 years old, he is still a prolific artist.
It isn’t fair to compare Sym and Mario but the two have penchants for Pinoy symbolisms and colors. Also on view until March 31 at Hiraya Gallery, Sym’s exhibit showcases his mastery of the neoclassical cubism technique. His brand of cubism infuses shapes from sarimanok, a colorful mythical bird that represents our culture.
Present in his paintings are abstract-drawn cubes that resemble a sarimanok. At the center of the prisms and abstractions are clear images of fruits and flowers, baskets and vases, faces and women’s naked bodies. How does he do it? Perhaps, only Sym has the wit and ability for such synergy.
Before concentrating on neocubism, Sym used to be an impressionist painter. He would do landscapes of the glorious Manila back when life was still simple and peaceful. Then he had an aha! moment. Sym founded Dimasalang, a group of renowned figurative artists and impressionists, including Romulo Galicano, Emilio “Abe” Aguilar Cruz, Ibarra dela Rosa, and Andres Cristobal Cruz. They captured images of Manila after WWII when it used to enjoy the era of affluence and peace.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/we-call-them-legends/#vU60f1uZxJZquECX.99
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