The Iloilo art life has lived through highs and lows, yet it has regained exuberance since the hosting of the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference in 2016.

Since then, Iloilo has experienced exponential growth, which has molded an ebullient populace with patrons hobnobbing with art makers, advocates, and cultural workers, and with young award-winning artists and emerging next-liners associating with renowned Filipino and Ilonggo creative icons.

Iloilo Art Life is fueled by partnerships under a visionary leader 

The proactive stakeholders from various sectors of society and a steadfast commitment from a visionary chief executive, who is a true believer in the power of the arts as an essential component that would elevate the city to the next level, provided the impetus that ignited its change.

The sense of community that it created invited the support of national government agencies, which funded the restoration of key heritage buildings that are now serving as museums and galleries like the Museum of Philippine Economic History, the Western Visayas Regional Museum, and the University of the Philippines Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage.

Complementing the evolution of arts and culture is Iloilo’s dependable private sector, which fueled the establishment of new art centers that are now sought after for the mélange of rare fine art collections, including masterpieces by local artists that are featured at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, the Metro Iloilo Modern Arts Park, and the Mamusa Gallery at the city’s new central business district. On the other hand, the Molo Mansion, which has been restored, as well as long-standing art establishments like the Museo Iloilo and the University of San Agustin Archives and Museum, continue to coexist alongside these galleries with historical and cultural artifacts and art galleries for exchanging exhibits.

Also read: The Iloilo Art Book heralds the rich Ilonggo talent

Blossoming simultaneously from the ground up are public art projects across the metropolis, especially along bike lanes, and the formation of small to medium arts spaces that are now venues for creative expression, art literacy, advocacy, and cultural discourse, such as the FDCP Cinematheque Center Gallery, Book Latté Alternative Art Space, and the ongoing development of a new art hub in Jaro, the KRi8 Gallery.

The imposing Iloilo Custom’s House that is overlooking the Iloilo River along Muelle Loney is now the Philippine Maritime Museum, and a Veteran’s Museum will also be established. These museums carry distinctive stories that link past acts of bravery with present-day heroism, like those of the Ilonggo maritime diaspora, who have shown a natural affinity to the seas as a region within the archipelago.

Also highly anticipated is the reopening of the Iloilo City Gallery, which will be housed this time at the Kerr & Co., Ltd. heritage building beside the Iloilo City Hall.

The incremental growth of the Iloilo arts scene in the last six years has made it an esteemed destination for a well-rounded arts and culture experience—heritage sites, public art, paintings, sculptures, literature, music, dance, theater, and film—becoming a strategic capital for arts and culture in the country.

Art in the Heart of the Philippines

The Iloilo City Government released a 200-page Iloilo Art Book on February 2023, themed Art in the Heart of the Philippines,  evoking Iloilo’s geographical location at the heart of the archipelago and where art is alive and flourishing.

As the City of Love, Art in the Heart of the Philippines hints at the Ilonggos’ love and affinity for art, which is translated through support for art initiatives, patronage, and the acquisition of art works.

Art in the Heart of the Philippines also conveys the well-balanced character of the Ilonggos—peace-loving and soft-spoken yet firm, confident, and with gentle assertiveness—and this too manifests in various forms of art by Ilonggo art makers.

Read: ILOILO ART BOOK to reveal why Iloilo possess the heart and soul for the arts

The Iloilo Art Book is like an art exhibit by itself, and it shows carefully selected art pieces submitted by artists. As such, it also functions like a catalog, featuring around 200 artworks by 180 local artists from 13 art groups in Iloilo.

It is rich with text, historical notes, and messages by dignitaries, and accompanied by colorful images that show Ilonggo art, artists, and art spaces.

The book is another first for the Iloilo City Government. It’s an attempt to chronicle the events that shaped the development of the local visual arts sector for over a decade. Its content initially covered the period 2021–2022, although the concept was developed and deliberated during the pre-pandemic period.

The book cover features the work of one of Iloilo’s renowned impressionist oil painters, Gerundio Buendia, Jr., entitled Abundance.

It epitomizes the value of hard work, simple family life, and a sense of community, and it emphasizes the unique character of Ilonggo women, showing a happy disposition in the midst of daily work in the countryside.

Source:
Introduction to The Museums, Galleries, and Art Spaces of Iloilo: Vignette of a noble past, flamboyant present, and vibrant future, Ted Aldwin Ong, Iloilo Art Book 2021 to 2023, Art in the Heart of the Philippines, published by the Iloilo City Government, 2023.