The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in conjunction with Arthaland, offers an exhibition of visual artworks and artifacts from the CCP 21st Century Art Museum (21AM) Collection at the Arthaland Cebu Exchange in Cebu City until October 12, 2023.
The show, "Udtong Tutok: Art at High Noon," brings together different cultures while emphasizing the importance of tensions and contradictions, affinities and continuities that build a collective drive to imagine and create. It is a collection of ideas, virtues, and values that must be acknowledged and thoroughly explored in order for Filipino cultural workers and creatives to prosper.
“Udtong Tutok celebrates the Philippine diverse cultures through the CCP 21st Century Art Museum Collection, or the CCP 21AM Collection, consisting of both visual artworks and ethnographic objects that the Cultural Center of the Philippines has collected, preserved, and owned,” said CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan during the exhibit opening in Arthaland Cebu Exchange last September 15, 2023.
For years, the collection has been displayed at the Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino and can be seen around the CCP Main Building. But most of them are stored in our storage area.
“It is quite regrettable that we could not display all our collections because we really don’t have a museum or a gallery that can fit all of them, especially now that the CCP Main Building is undergoing rehabilitation. But this new development, the rehabilitation of our Main Building, has opened new doors for us in a unique way. When we were planning our visual arts programming, we looked at how we can maximize our collection and make them more accessible to our kababayans,” said Marasigan.
The CCP has collaborated with several museums, galleries, and other institutions to move artworks and cultural objects from storage to exhibition halls and galleries. CCP has a number of touring exhibits planned for this year, including Udtong Tutok.
“Arthaland has been like a divine partner that heaven has sent to us. CCP and Arthaland share the same vision of enriching the lives of Filipino people through arts and culture, creating art appreciation and cultural awareness especially among the young generation. This is the second time we are partnering with Arthaland, and I hope this won’t be the last,” aid Marasigan.
The exhibition showcases works and items; some of which are probably displayed for the first time, and others we haven’t seen in a long while.
Among the artworks featured at the exhibit are by National Artist Napoleon Abueva, National Artist Federico Alcuaz, National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, National Artist Ang Kiukok, National Artist Jose Joya, Paz Abad Santos, Felix Abesamis, Angelito Antonio, Roderico Jose Daroy, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Josefina Escudero, Lao Lianben, David Medalla, Edsel Moscoso, Romulo Olazo, Rod Paras-Perez, Lisa Perez, Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., Solomon Saprid, Manuel Soriano. Meanwhile, artifacts from different ethnolinguistic groups such as Bagobo, Blaan, Bontoc, Gaddang, Ifugao, Ilongot, Itneg, Kalinga, Mandaya, Manobo, Maranao, T’boli are also displayed.
The exhibition intends to stimulate debate on Philippine modern and contemporary art in the context of Cebuano artists' strong academic classicism. Bringing artworks to the provinces, particularly Cebu, is critical for Cebuano artists. In keeping with its past as a gathering place, Cebu remains a haven for creatives, allowing them to produce works that are real reflections of their interests, passions, and beliefs.
“We are also very happy to be here in Cebu. It has been our thrust as the country’s leading art institution to bring our brand of artistic programming all over the country. We hope that through this exhibit we can bring the conversations from the national level to the regional, and vice versa. By cultural exchanges like this, we can unravel new paradigms and chart new collaborations. Cross cultural encounters would shed light on and address important socio-cultural issues, and encourage new ways of art making, which would lead to cultural and national development,” enthused Marasigan.
On September 29, 2023, a woodblock printmaking workshop will be held to introduce novices and aficionados to the practice of woodcut technique and sample prints found in the exhibition. Participants will be immersed in the processes of the woodblock relief print method, using a variety of materials such as wood, carving tools, and a hand-held baren to press the ink into the absorbent paper. The exhibit will be running until October 12, 2023
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