2023 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (Made): Winning works mirror nation’s soul  

Of the 402 entries received this year, seven up-and-coming young Filipino painters and sculptors were named winners of the 2023 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence. The winning pieces tackled relevant issues and reflected Filipino narratives.

Jowee Anne Aguinaldo’s “Puro Kahig, Walang Matuka (All Scratch, No Peck),” the Grand Awardee in the Oil/Acrylic on Canvas category, suggests a timely expression to the Filipino idiom “isang kahig, isang tuka.” It is related to the plight of farmers and their families across the country whose livelihood rarely receives support.

In the painting, the farmers are bent downwards, perpendicular to one another, sowing over barren land. Their intertwined bodies form the image of a dinner table, a symbol of togetherness and connection for the family. Yet, the artist instills the composition with irony—the irony of working tirelessly to put food on everybody’s table except for their own.

The farmers’ clothes allude to the colors of the Philippine flag, echoing the central message of the work. Burdened not only by their own hunger, the living conditions of Filipino farmers continue to worsen. Aguinaldo highlights these painful truths to raise awareness to the situation of the farmers whose harvest we enjoy.

Aguinaldo will receive P350,000 cash incentive and P150,000 worth of scholarship at the Linangan Art Residency.

Bagging the Special Citation in the Oil/Acrylic on Canvas category, Dexter Cinco’s “Prima Custos (First Guardian)” is a “homage to elderly members of society” who have imparted their wisdom and care towards the youth. The Latin title translates to first guardian which aptly describes the roles they’ve played in the lives of the youth.

The image is cut in two parts with each half conveying a story of its own. Cinco maps out personal history like lines and impressions pressed on skin in her portrait of her grandmother. Displayed in her careful attention to detail, it shares the longing of wanting to understand the lives of the older generation. The closeness of the artist to its subject imbues the work with the value of care and love that can only be found in the bond between parents and their children. “Prima Custos” is deeply personal yet cuts through the warmhearted message of loyalty and honor to the people who have raised us.

In Jonas Miguel Arlegui’s “Pagitan (In-Between),” another recipient of the Special Citation in the Oil/Acrylic on Canvas category, the artist opens up a rift between earthly objects and beings in his landscape of monotony and incongruous shapes.

A landfill and an en masse of people cover opposite ends of the landscape, defying the laws of gravity while tilted vertically. The individuals stand close together but they seem alienated by each other’s existence. The only light that passes through in this painting comes from the backdrop of the cloudy sky but communication lines hovering in different directions obstruct the view.

Regardless, Arlegui inserts religious allegory in his work with the telephone pole that bears the image of the cross. Lines meet and intersect as they journey to their destinations, similar to the lives on Earth. Arlegui reminds us that the connections we make during our time spent on Earth save us from isolation and despair.

Pagpag, meaning to shake off dirt, is the practice of scavenging for scrap food from restaurants and fast-food chains to be cooked and served again as a fresh meal. In Jerome Santos’ “ha(PAG PAG)kaing pinagkainan” (“Pagpag” Recycled Leftover Food), the Grand Awardee in the Watermedia on Paper category, a table for three served with refried bones and chewed up leftovers overflowing in buckets is set. Piles of rubbish are stacked behind and small critters move around asking to share portions. The group of unbothered men dining together turn their attention outside of the frame.

The use of watermedia amplifies the unique perspective present in the work. It repurposes the juxtaposition between humor and wit to the weight and seriousness of this issue. This depiction of pagpag sets off a deeper discussion into the series of interconnected issues that question and give awareness to the lived experiences of Filipinos in poverty-stricken communities.

“Some Threads Are Made of Flesh and Blood,” conferred with the Special Citation in the Watermedia on Paper category, is a multi-generational family portrait that treads the line between craft and fine art to portray an enduring story of honor and love that is nurtured at home. Zarlien Delgado immortalizes her family’s legacy and history of dressmaking that started from her grandmother and passed on to her by her mother.

In the painting, the artist visualizes a passion so deep that it takes root in one’s heart and soul, visualizing a tangible thread that connects generations together. The deep red evokes fervent emotions of love and devotion but also calls to the rigorous work and effort given to reach this far.

The painting intertwines narratives on domesticity, femininity, and maternity that evoke a feeling of warmth. It questions the fundamental roles that mothers play in the lives of their daughters, shaping the women that they eventually become.

They will each receive a P100,000 cash prize.

Sculpture recognition program

The Grand Awardee for the Sculpture Recognition Program, Abril Dominic Valdemoro upholds the significant roles of jeepney drivers as public workers and cultural icons in his marine epoxy resin sculpture titled, “Last Trip.”

He will receive P500,000 cash incentive.

Valdemoro displayed ingenuity and skill by melding together local materials with classical visual elements. The relaxed, life-like stature of the man follows the concept of contrapposto. The artist incorporated jeepney placards redesigned as an armor and winged headpiece, pieces that allude to Hermes, the Greek god of speed and travel. Inscriptions “God Bless Our Trip” and “In God We Trust” are religious motifs that are often seen on public transport vehicles and reflect the Philippines’ vibrant culture and identity.

The sculpture embodies the qualities of the Filipino spirit that remains strong and unrelenting in the face of struggle. Jeepney drivers represent thousands of Filipinos who embark on their own journeys. Above all, “Last Trip” honors the enduring dedication and commitment of jeepney drivers on the road.

Awarded with the Special Citation in the Sculpture Recognition Program, Michael Art de Leon’s resin sculpture titled “Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig” (World United by Water) explores the interconnectedness between water and people—a liquid symbolism that flows into social and cultural systems, affecting the way we interact and exchange with one another.

He will receive a P100,000 cash prize.

A figure of a man is depicted partially submerged in a pool of clear blue liquid. The artist’s use of resin to materialize water suffuses the work with dimension and dynamic movement, achieving the look of still water. The scene feels tranquil, almost primal; capturing an intimate moment between two bodies, of man and of water coalescing.

The ivory-like wash of the figure and the glass-like finish of the water show the fragile and tense conditions that surround the forces they represent. In search of peace, the sculpture invites us to reexamine how our primordial connection with water could potentially transform the way we perceive the world and act upon our environment.

Taking off from the theme “Connect: Stronger Ties, Bolder Strides,” MADE invited visual artists to take a leap of faith and seize new opportunities to unlock their full potential. The theme also speaks about the transformative power of creative collaborations, and how art can create linkages and transcend boundaries.’’

All awardees will receive the “More” trophy designed and created by 2007 Metrobank Foundation Prize for Achievement in Sculpture (MPAS) Juan Sajid. The design signifies the growth of hundreds of homegrown talents recognized and presented to the larger sphere of the art community. The awardees will automatically join the MADE-Network of Winners (MADE-N.O.W), the alumni organization of MADE winners that implements pay-it-forward projects in support of marginalized sectors.

MADE @ 39

“In our 39 years of sustained service to the art community, it is our privilege to care for artworks that reflect the soul of our nation. As we approach our 40th year, we look back at tradition while braving the times. In the journey ahead, we will continue to champion not only excellence, but also the sustainable development of our artists and the nation’s artistic tapestry,” shared MBFI president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña.

This year’s board of judges was chaired by artist, educator, and consultant Sandra Palomar and co-chaired by Qube Gallery founder Maris Holopainen. Members of the Board include visual artist and sculptor Kublai Millan, painter Golda King, visual artist Raffy Napay, sculptor Richard Buxani and curator and educator Laya Boquiren-Gonzales.

“On behalf of my fellow panelists, I congratulate this year’s MADE awardees for their artistic rigor and ingenious allegories. Not only do their artworks reflect truthful conditions and enduring values of Filipinos—they urge careful consideration of the persistence of figuration in Philippine contemporary art,” said Palomar.

Winning works will be exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Manila in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig from Sept. 22 to Oct. 6, Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Alongside this, the exhibition will also feature the works of the semi-finalists and finalists of the competition, as well as the permanent collection and MADE-N.O.W. Works of the 2021 and 2022 MADE awardees will also be exhibited for the first time onsite. This exhibition is part of Metrobank’s 61st anniversary celebration.

Through MADE’s venue partner, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the exhibition of winning works from the competition is now back onsite after holding it virtually in the last two years due to the pandemic.

Another milestone to look forward to is MADE’s partnership with Samsung. Through Samsung’s cutting-edge technology that was incorporated into the venue, this year’s exhibition will be transformed into a space where audiences can innovatively experience art and immerse themselves in the world of artists.

In the same venue, a public exhibit tour and forum called Art MADE Public will also be held on Sept. 30 with the topic “Fostering Thriving Art Communities” to provide visual artists with a platform for storytelling to highlight the ways art serves as a force for good.

The forum will feature “Emerging Islands,” an art-for-ecology residency and collective growing an alternative infrastructure for Filipino artists to tell community-based island stories.

Visual artist and core community member Jao San Pedro will be presenting her journey through and within the practice of collaborative art making and caregiving through Emerging Islands and her own art practice. She is a visual artist exploring the generative potentials of loss and error. Her process-based practice filters data and material through transcategorial frameworks, rendering trace and surface, sound and gesture, doubles and simulacra.

The events are also made possible together with advocacy partner Project PEARLS. More than a non-profit organization, Project PEARLS is a powerful movement driven by a heartfelt promise: to offer underserved Filipino children education, literacy, empowerment, nutrition, and healthcare, aiming to break the chains of poverty and help them achieve their highest potential.

Supporting the events as well are premier media partner Art+ Magazine joined by Kanto.com.ph, Esquire Philippines, The Philippine STAR, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, and CNN Philippines.

Since 1984, MADE has evolved from being an art competition to becoming a venue where art is used as a tool to examine the status quo, spark dialogue, and create positive change. It has also since remained dedicated to its mission of helping young visual artists build sustainable careers.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Metrobank Art and Design Excellence.