Kapampangan art in the limelight
Bale Gamat Kapampangan, a newly formed organization of visual artists from Pampanga, recently held a two-man show in Angeles City that highlighted the natural and cultural heritages of the province.
The exhibit, “Faces and Phases,” which ran from March 22 to April 12, featured the works of Arnel David Garcia and German artist Lutz Oreans, who presented their “innovative approach to the culture of Pampanga and the Philippines.”
Garcia exhibited mixed media assemblages and sculptural works, while Oreans paid homage to nature and the divine through floral and spiritual-themed paintings.
Cast and sculpted faces, a signature of Garcia, who is considered a top sculptor today, if not the master of sculpture, in Pampanga, were part of the three-week show. Mounted on frames or made into sculptural pieces, these works reflected Garcia’s proclivity to present the human body not just as artistic oeuvres but as creations that reflect a better understanding of humanity and its various aspects.
More than 30 of David’s works were part of the exhibition, while Oreans showed close to 20.
Vibrant paintings
A longtime resident of Pampanga, Oreans has a penchant for the plants, flowers, and spirituality he sees not only among the Kapampangans and in Filipinos in general, but in other cultures of the world, too.
This appreciation translated to paintings that were vibrant, natural, and straightforward, presenting his chosen subjects in a style of his own. Oreans’ works could be deep and philosophical, with facets that mirror his job as an international electronics engineer, scholar, and inventor.
He likewise touched on compassion and understanding amid a cacophony of issues hounding humanity.
His “Mother and Child,” for example, was created with the idea that it is a sacred image representing every culture in the world. And in that “something in common,” he showed that humanity can thrive in cooperation and understanding.
Bale Gamat Kapampangan Artist Consumers Cooperative is located at 466 Sto. Rosario Street, inside the Angeles City Heritage District in Pampanga.
