Even though he’s never seen an aswang (monster) in person, it hasn’t stopped Filipino artist Peter Duarte from painting one.
Amidst paintings of colourful landscapes, porcelain art, portraits of past Filipino presidents, carabao (water buffalo) sculptures and other works of art, Duarte’s graphic, in-your-face, larger-than-life painting of a Filipino shape-shifter creature stood out at the Annual Art Exhibition of The Philippine Artists Group held at the Neilson Park Creative Centre in Etobicoke on Saturday, June 24, 2023.
“Since childhood, narinig ko na ang aswang (I’ve heard of aswang), but have never seen one,” Duarte said.
He did “photo-bashing”–where pieces of eyes, nose, and other facial features are combined from different sources, to come up with what he imagines an aswang looks like.
“(Kaya) naiba sya sa ibang painting (that’s why it’s different from other paintings),” Duarte confided at the exhibit.
His other submission is a self-portrait inspired by Filipino singer Francis Magalona’s song “Lando”. One half of his face in the painting is painted black, the other in white, with red splashes in the middle.
“The song ‘Lando’ by Francis Magalona…kung marinig mo, mage-gets mo agad ang story (once you hear it, you’ll understand the story).” Duarte said the song is about the divide between rich and poor, with the conflict between the two worlds symbolized by blood.
Duarte grew up in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in 2011. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of San Agustin in Iloilo, Philippines. He then completed an advanced diploma with honours in Architectural Technology at Sheridan College.
Since his day job involves drawing technical art, he wanted to do something different during his down time. “Outside of work, (I do) mostly portraits.”
He’s had work commissioned by celebrities, and his portfolio includes portraits of mandrills, Kalinga tribal women and the Philippine eagle. He’s currently working on a portrait of 106 year-old Filipina tattoo artist Whang-od: “hindi pa tapos ang painting…mahirap”. (The painting isn’t done yet. It’s hard.)
Filipino renowned artist Mogi Mogado Jr. also displayed his carabao sculpture and other artwork during the exhibition. Mogado is known for his life-size bronze statue of Philippine hero Jose P. Rizal at the Luneta Gardens in Markham, Ont. Mogado received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event graced by VIP guests Consul General Angelica Escalona, MP Rechie Valdez and Toronto Medical Health Officer Dr. Eileen De Villa.
The exhibit runs until July 8, 2023. For more information, visit www.philippineartists.com
From the Philippine Artists website: Paleta 35 is an annual exhibition showcasing the latest works of established and emerging Filipino-Canadian artists. This event celebrates the cultural diversity and artistic expression of the Filipino-Canadian community, and features a stunning display of contemporary art. Whether you are an art collector, enthusiast, or simply looking for a night of inspiration and creativity, Paleta 35 promises to be an engaging and memorable event.
This Pinay artist was on Google Doodle. And now, an exhibit at the AGO - Mabuhay Canada
November 21, 2024 @ 11:55 pm
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