For the third time, the oldest art organization of the University of the East, College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (UE-CFAD) once again hailed as one of the selected art groups all over the Philippines to receive the 2019 NCCA Gallery, Exhibition Grant.

It was truly a painstaking process for Prof. Richard Soriano Legaspi, Buklod Sining 2018-2019 Adviser and proponent of the grant to apply for the exhibition funding since he was also busy shooting his latest documentary project. Legaspi’s co-exhibition curator Prof. Pamela Santos-Galera presented the concept “From Above and From Below” that will showcase not only the creative vision of the UEnian artists but more so the relationship of their art to the social sphere.

Buklod is always true to its core about arts for social change initiatives since 1989, their first exhibition grant under NCCA gave homage to Philippine Cinema as part of their 20th anniversary in 2009 and it traveled to two more relevant exhibition spaces like PhilAm Life in Manila and Ishmael Bernal Gallery in UP Diliman. The second exhibition grant is for Buklod’s 25th Anniversary was also a success, entitled Pinaeba: Filipina sa lahat ng Panahon, an art exhibition dedicated to the Filipino woman through the century and how they triumphantly surpassed the challenges of times through their huge global contributions in diverse fields.

“FROM ABOVE AND FROM BELOW: Narratives that deserve to be uncovered and made known”, is the 30th Founding Anniversary theme of Buklod Sining. It will give reverence to narratives coming from above and from below, through this the participating artists will be able to understand and contemplate about their immense responsibilities in creating relevant art projects outside the confinement of art studio and salon walls.

Work by Francis Moran

The event aims to inspire a community of young creative people capable of identifying powerful visual contributions as well as recognizing the prevailing impact of art in our socio-emotional, cultural and moral development. This reunion exhibition will also connect the works of selected and award-winning alumni artists of UE-CFAD and invited artists in the contemporary art scene today.

The exhibit will showcase works of selected Buklod Sining student members, namely Rolandson Operio, Jesse Camacho, Shane Delfin, Francis Moran, Jerome Daguplo, Timothy Tatel, Nathaniel Sunga, Angela Nicole Alarilla, Maica Borlagdan, Allan Soriano, Reyster Delos Reyes, Jay Bonito, Melo Adriano and Vincent Santos.

Participating Buklod Sining alumni artists are Jay Ragma, Lei Manto, Roland Ventura, Ace Aquino, Angeline Tabilog, Bernadette Banigoos, John Lanbert Rafols, Trish Dijamco, Elvin Macanlalay, Bryan Marticio, Mars Sanchez, Nico Nunag, Kimi Teves, Richard Soriano Legaspi, Bayani Galera, Ronwell Jason Bacani, and Jay Condeno.

Invited Artists includes Fitz Hererra, Michael Villagante, Max Balatbat, Wipo, Nikko Pelaez, JM De Olazo, JP Duray and RC Camarinez.

This milestone is not only a commemoration of years of being relevant but also the start of another 30 years of our continuous commitment in helping the University of the East in honing young artists in diverse artistic disciplines. The exhibition will showcase different art practices from academic to contemporary approaches (painting, video art, assemblage, sculpture, installation, print and textual art) that will attempt to set an artistic discourse about the connection of social practice art, the relationship between space and urban renewal.

The opening of the exhibition is on February 14, 2019, at 6:00 PM at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Gallery, Intramuros, Manila. Exhibit runs until March 6, 2019. “From Above and From Below” is made possible by the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Buklod Sining and its Alumni Society.

 For details about the exhibition please contact NCCA Gallery Secretariat at 527-2192 loc. 324 & 328, Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 7:00PM, or email us at gallery@ncca.gov.ph ; nccagallery09@gmail.com ; Gallery Days & Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.