Rodel Tapaya, "Baston Ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero Di Mabilang"

Most of us know by now that Rodel Tapaya won the Grand Prize of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize, one of the richest prizes in the region, a triennial event organized by the Singapore Art Museum.  Undoubtedly, this counts as one of Philippine art’s highlights for 2011 as Rodel’s work was chosen from an initial list of over 130 nominees from across Asia Pacific, later pared down to 15 finalists by an international panel of judges.  He exhibited the majestic Baston Ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero Di Mabilang at the UP Vargas Museum one year ago, part of Bulaklak Ng Dila, his most ambitious, compelling solo show to date.

The painting measures 10 ft. x 20 ft. (3m x 6m) and keeps to his practice of retelling Philippine folk tales via visual narratives.  This one recounts two legends, one from the Bontoc tribe on how a giant dog saved humans from flood, and another on how Lumawig, the son of Kabunian, created mountains from a swath of cloth.  Rodel uses this piece as a social commentary on the destruction of the environment.  The title is actually a riddle, and the answer to it is ulan, rain, the effect on us of global warming.

Two weeks ago, I had the chance to sit down with Rodel and Ateneo Art Gallery’s Richie Lerma.  Richie nominated Rodel’s piece and travelled to Singapore for the awards ceremony.  I was eager to hear his thoughts:

“The work follows a certain tradition in the history of painting.  It recalls Heironymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and more recently, Picasso’s Guernica.  It has the same monumentality, vision, utilizing painting as a form—a catalyst—for change.  When I was looking at the other [finalists], I thought Rodel had a more encompassing view regarding his art.  It was a more universal statement on the place of painting.

If I may, I thought that Rodel, through his work, and myself, by putting forth the nomination, really made an assertion that this is an important painting, and it follows a particular tradition at a time when painting in the contemporary sense of art making had been losing ground but is making a resurgence.  Again, people are seeing the importance of painting.  So I suppose that found resonance with the international jury.   In lauding Rodel’s work, they quoted from my statement comparing the piece to Bosch’s.  So they saw this as making some contribution to the history of art.”

Richie also pointed out what I have always found true of Rodel’s work:  it may be grounded on distinctly Filipino themes, but easily appeals to a global audience.  The painting now belongs to the collection of Art Vantage, an art fund founded in Gibraltar by two collectors from Isreal.  Their collection leans towards pieces from developing markets, and includes celebrated pieces such as  Ai Wei Wei’s Recycled Bicycles.

The panel of judges included Tan Boon Hui, director of the Singapore Art Museum, Ranjit Hoskote, curator of the Indian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Hendro Wijanto, writer and curator, Gregor Muir, executive director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, and Fumio Nanjo, director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.

Rodel Tapaya’s Baston Ni Kabunian, Bilang Pero Di Mabilang is on view at the Singapore Art Museum as part of the APB Signature Art Prize exhibit until 4 March 2012.  For more information visit www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/signatureartprize

To see the previous post on Rodel Tapaya’s Bulaklak ng Dila, visit www.manilaartblogger.com/2010/12/14/rodel-tapayas-florid-tales-at-the-vargas-museum

One year ago: Rodel poses with his wife, artist Marina Cruz, at UP Vargas Museum where the piece was first exhibited

Rodel with Ateneo Art Gallery's Richie Lerma and Serge Tiroche and Russ Deleon, principals of Art Vantage, the art fund that acquired his winning piece

At center, APB Signature Art Prize Grand Prize winner Rodel Tapaya flanked by Jurors' Prize winners Sheba Chhachhi from India, Aida Makoto from Japan, Daniel Crooks from Australia and People's Choice Award winner Michael Lee from Singapore