Benilde spearheaded a Philippine printmaking exhibit with “Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking,” an exhibit that showcases the talents of Benildeans alongside renowned print artists. The collaborative exhibit officially opened on Feb. 26, at the 6F of the Design + Arts (D+A) Campus—making printmaking more accessible to the Benildean community.
Showcasing carefully curated print pieces that display the continuity from the 1960s up to the present, the exhibit highlights the growth of the medium. As Benilde President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC described in his opening statement, “[It is] an exhibition that celebrates the richness of print as an artistic medium in its evolving role in Philippine contemporary art.”
Evolving prints
Printmaking is not a stagnant craft. This was shown in the project headed by the Center for Campus Art (CCA) alongside students and faculty members from the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Culture-Based Arts (BFA-CBA). The exhibit garnered the support of Fundacion Sansó as a co-presenter and was made possible through collaboration with the Kalaw-Ledesma Foundation, Inc., the Association of Pinoyprintmakers, and Talyer 15.
Multiple works of Mr. Pandy Aviado were featured in the exhibit. He is an esteemed printmaker who had a decades-long practice in Europe and made significant contributions to printmaking in the Philippines. Mr. Aviado’s work not only represents his decades of expertise but also embodies his philosophy learnt through his creative journey.
Printmaking, for him, is more than a craft; it is a lifelong pursuit, an essence that opens up doors to other forms of art, “[..] It’s a way of finding my reason for my existence. I think the French call it ma raison d'être,” he stated in an interview with The Benildean.
Benilde makes a mark
The exhibit also features the extraordinary work of students and faculty members from The Benildean community. In her interview with The Benildean, CCA Director Ms. Dindin Araneta expressed their goal behind the project, “It’s really a way to highlight and present the work of students, faculties, associates in art, design or an advocacy that they might be interested in.”
Moreover, as BFA-CBA is a newly integrated program, Ms. Helena Sharon Malinis, chairperson of the program, stated, “We really want to have our name on there… Para ma-expose ka sa community ng mga artist, kailangan nakikita nila ‘yung pangalan mo.”
For the artists, nostalgia and childhood games inspired their works, making them extra personal. Carmela Marfori, ID123 BFA-CBA student, mentioned how the frustrations and hardships of carving are being alleviated by toys that they bring to class. ‘[...] Yung theme namin more on playful para pag nahihirapan kami, may kasama kami,” she shared with The Benildean.
“Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking” is one of the many ways that Benilde continues to push boundaries and challenge the art scene, making sure that the future generations continue to have access to rich Philippine art. This initiative has impressed many, including Mr. Ricky Francisco, Director of Fundacion Sansó, who believes that, “There are not many schools that have printmaking programs in their program… but making this accessible to the public is even a step further.”
“You’re very lucky. Benilde students are so lucky that the art goes to you… I hope you make the most it,” he ended.
For a deeper look at printmaking, visit “Perspectives in Philippine Printmaking” at the 6F of the D+A Campus until June 14.
