“Iloilo’s art community is one of the most dynamic in the country.” How many times have we heard this statement uttered either by politicians, business leaders, or by artists themselves? Plenty. 

The seemingly nuisance, if not irritating, question found substantive answers during the panel Q&A of the Art Talk, entitled, Artists Determining New Task in Philippine Contemporary Art, organized by My Secret Art Shop and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) on March 10.

Indeed, this is a question that is best answered by the local artists or within the local community. It also helps, however, to ask the same question to external stakeholders, especially when you have locals who have yet to appreciate the value of transparency and who are not too conversant about the matter.

Read: ART TALK at ILOMOCA with 4 renowned Filipino artists

The Art Talk had four of the country’s well-respected social realist artists in one room: Manny Garibay, Renato Habulan, Otto Neri, and Orley Ypon. It was an elucidating forum with straightforward responses. Hence, the question received a definitive answer. Now, “Iloilo has the most dynamic art community” is a statement that can stand on its own. It is not a PR stunt, but rather a statement that reflects a positive development for the local art community that is worth capitalizing on.

Ilonggo artists have a restless spirit.—Garibay

“Iloilo has a very different spirit,” said social realist artist Manny Garibay, “a restless spirit”. The dynamism of the Iloilo art community is rooted in the “restlessness” of the Ilonggo artists, he said.

“The Ilonggo artists do not adhere to a particular form; one is different from the other,” underscored Garibay, “because they are restless; they’re so bold, and I think there is this desire to explore and be one with the self at the same time.”

“I don’t see that kind of spirit anywhere else in this country. “It’s a different kind of spirit, and Iloilo should capitalize on it,” expressed Garibay.

Iloilo has a diversified dominant factor – Habulan

On the other hand, social realist Renato Habulan examined the dynamism of the Iloilo art community using the lens of what he described as the “dominant factor”.

He emphasized that Iloilo has a diversified dominant factor, while Bacolod and Cebu are monolithic.

According to Habulan, the dominant factor is more pronounced in Bacolod. “The dominant element unites them; they [artists] gravitate to that dominant factor, which is, we can say, the Black Artists of Asia, and maybe the most dominant figure is Charlie Co.”

“So, they gravitate toward that, and it becomes monolithic because the dominant factor influences, not only in terms of thinking but also in form,” he stressed.

“There is positive in having a dominant factor,” underscored Habulan, “they have identity or a dominant identity.”

“In Cebu, the dominant factor is not [Romulo] Galicano or Ypon; rather, it is [Martino] Abellana. The Abellana school and its influence continue to hold sway today. For instance, Orley Ypon’s contemporary realism paintings have the Abellana look,” shared Habulan.

Iloilo is not an exception, for its development also revolved around the dominant factor.

“There was Ed Defensor before, then recently there was Rock Drilon,” explained Habulan, who also mentioned PG Zoluaga, who was also in attendance.

As far as Iloilo is concerned, its evolution, fluidity, and dynamism are characterized by a more diversified dominant factor, explained Habulan, and this is manifested by an overflowing of dominant figures, among them: Melvin Guirhem of Puluy-an, award-winning artists like Tyrone Espinosa and Orland Espinosa, and the young artists are also asserting their dominance.”

For Habulan, Iloilo has a peculiar dynamism which is driven by “unity in diversity.”

Iloilo’s infras and its excellent artists – Orley Ypon

For his part, Orley Ypon referred to Iloilo museums like the ILOMOCA as enhancing Iloilo’s dynamic art community because it is one of a kind in the Philippines, “not even Cebu has a similar infrastructure that houses contemporary art of this scale,” he said.

Moreover, Ypon also identified the brilliant practice of local artists as a driver of its dynamism by mentioning award-winning artists like Cezar Arro, Allain Hablo, Melvin Guirhem, and young artists.

The Art Talk was an enriching learning experience that is worth integrating into the programming of local art groups.

As Manny Garibay has said, continuing dialogue by artists with stakeholders is essential for the growth of the local art community.

Art, shared by Renato Habulan, must serve as a funnel through which knowledge and learning should pass. After all, artists do not create art in a vacuum but rather from realities and events happening in society.