#42 National Museum of Fine Arts Tour

Yahoo! It’s Sunday blogging day!

    Yesterday, we had our United Architects of the Philippines (Pasig Chapter) 5th General Membership Meeting at SM Manila and an educational tour at the National Museum Complex. UAP activities are something that I was looking forward to every month, as it is one of my de-stressors! It was unfortunate that I didn’t write the other seminars that I had taken part in before. I love UAP, especially my chapter, because I find it very enjoyable to meet new people and old acquaintances (e.g. my professor in college who I didn’t have any idea that she was also a member of my chapter until yesterday!).

Kudos to Ar. Angeles (President) and our dedicated officers who made countless efforts for our organization and profession!

    The first part of the event was the assembly at SM Manila. It’s amusing to think that months before, I often went to that place because that is where JPT Review Center conducted their refresher classes, but yesterday, I went there not just as a student but as an architect!

    The seminar lasted for almost three hours. It was a great honor to meet Ar. Alberto Dumlao, the grandson of one of the renowned visual artists Antonio Dumlao. Ar. Dumlao shared his insights and stories about Juan Luna’s Spoliarium and it was fascinating to hear how visual arts and architecture coexist with one another. After all, architecture is regarded to be the highest form of art.

    The seminar and lunch had already ended and the next thing we had to do was to go to the National Museum Complex. It is only 12 mins walk away from SM Manila but it was raining so my friend and I rode a tricycle. It shocked us that the driver asked for a Php 100 fare for that distance!

    The queue at the National Museum of Fine Arts was quite long, which was expected because it was Saturday. Bags and umbrellas were not allowed in the galleries, so we deposited our belongings at the baggage counter.

ME! XD

    It was my first time visiting a museum! It was cold inside because they designed museums in that way in order to preserve the paintings and other collections within the building.

Ducting inside the museum and notice how the color has blended well with the neo-classical architectural details

    Upon entering the reception hall, the first thing that you will arrive at is the Spoliarium Hall, where Juan Luna’s painting of the same name was displayed, lit by several track lights, creating a dramatic effect. The painting was huge, and Luna took approximately eight months to complete it. Ar. Dumlao told us during the seminar earlier that the painting was divided into three panels because no crate would fit the whole canvas at that time. On the other hand, the architectural framing, and mounting work were the responsibility of Ar. Carlos da Silva.

“The Spoliarium” 1884 by Juan Luna was submitted to the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes, it was among the three awarded gold medals. The setting of the painting is believed to be a Roman circus–a venue for public events under the Roman Empire. It features dying and dead gladiators who have been stripped of their weapons and garments. The left of the painting features audiences who seem to only watch the slaughter of the gladiators, while on the right, there are people who appear to be mourning family members looking for their loved ones in the pile of dead bodies. The dark color scheme makes for the overall impression of the painting.

    At the upper level of the building, our chapter went to the old Senate Hall. It now houses the “Filipino Struggles Through History” the monumental series of paintings by the Philippine National Artist Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco. The most impressive features of the hall, taking full advantage of the architectural space, are undoubtedly the series of Corinthian columns and pilasters, the main wall above the rostrum with its fretwork and garlands, and most of all, the sculptural groupings surrounding the top of the hall.

Those paintings remain to this day an outstanding and unique achievement in Philippine art.

Chosen works:

Men at Work” is a large-scale triptych oil on canvas painting created in 1979 by Ang Kiukok (1931-2005). This semiabstract painting depicting solid, heavy, and muscular human limbs and torso in tones of black and white and engaged in physical work represents the strength of the labor force. It was created in 1979 as a commissioned painting for the National Manpower and Youth Commission (NMYC) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). This was before the NMYC merged with the Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE) of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS). The Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of DOLE formed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA in 1994. The painting used to be displayed at the auditorium entrance of the TESDA-NCR Office in Taguig.

Black Nazarene, Quiapo Church by Ricarte Puruganan

Portrait of a lady(also known as Mi Novia or Portrait of Paz Pardo de Tavera) by Juan Luna — oil on panel ( Crica 1885)

    My friend and I acting together lol.

    The old Legislative Building (commonly known as the National Museum of Fine Arts today) built in 1926 is undoubtedly the best example of neo-classical architecture in the Philippines. It has been the place for the country’s statesmen for decades. It has witnessed wars, demonstrations, and calamities. The other buildings within the complex are the National Museum of Anthropology (1918) and the National Museum of Natural History (1941).

The National Museum of Fine Arts at night, designed by Ar. Juan Arellano

Do I recommend visiting the National Museum Complex?

    Big yes! But my big advice is to visit early because the complex is huge, and a whole day alone is not even enough to see all the works at the National Museum of Fine Arts. There were other galleries, but we never had the chance to see the entire complex due to a lack of time. I will definitely visit again to see the other two Museum structures!