EP30: National Artist Napoleon Abueva: Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture | Bohol, UP, Brâncuşi

ArticulatePH is thrilled to present Lost Conversations, a series of interviews conducted 40–50 years ago by publisher, art critic, and artist Cid Reyes.
Cid recently rediscovered these cassette tape recordings of conversations with established artists, masters, and National Artists, and ArticulatePH has now digitized them for today's art enthusiasts.
These invaluable sound bites, now carefully restored, are truly national treasures, transporting us to an era on the brink of a Philippine contemporary art revolution.

The notable divide between the renowned 19th-century French sculptor Auguste Rodin, famous for his iconic piece “The Kiss,” and his former apprentice, the Romanian Constantin Brancusi, who was a trailblazer of 20th-century modernism, marks a crucial turning point in the evolution of global sculpture, signifying a complete departure from the artistic traditions of earlier times.

In the Philippines, we find a remarkable parallel to Rodin and Brancusi in Guillermo Tolentino, known for his masterpiece, the “Bonifacio and the Katipunan Revolution Monument,” a significant landmark in Caloocan City, and Napoleon Abueva, who brought the idea of modern sculpture to the nation.

From the 1950s until he died in 2018, Abueva produced an unparalleled body of work in sculpture, encompassing religious figures like the Crucifixion and the Pieta, heroic monuments, functional pieces, whimsical sculptures, lapidaries, and coffins.
In this remarkable production, Napoleon Abueva defied the traditional expectations associated with the National Artist award, typically granted in advanced years. At 46, Napoleon Abueva was awarded the state's highest artistic honor, making him the youngest recipient of this prestigious accolade.