Top Contemporary Negros Artists

 

In celebration of the National Arts Month, we delve into the persona and art of the top contemporary artists of Negros in the early 1970s.  Art is alive and well in Negros these days with a number of well-known artists from the island earning national, and international acclaim.

Negros however has somehow been a considerable epicenter of contemporary art even before the current art boom came in.  This is well documented in the book of Manuel Duldulao published in the early 1970s which stated that Bacolod in Negros Occidental was the first city artists would target to have a show in, owing to the benevolent patronage of Negrense collectors.

Negrenses by upbringing have always had their eye out for good art.  A number of Negrenses were even avid collectors of work by the maestro, Fernando C. Amorsolo during the time of the commonwealth.  Subsequently after the war, the municipality of Silay saw the building of a cultural center right next to its plaza.  The cultural center in Silay well preceded the Cultural Center of the Philippines by many years.  

It is due to this inherent inclination that one of Negros' favorite sons in art and culture, no less than Ramon Hofilena, a known art, culture, and heritage connoisseur put together an exhibit called, "Top Contemporary Artists of Negros".  The exhibit was done in the early 1970s when sugar in Negros was booming and art was gaining popularity nationwide.

The artists featured in the exhibit included Jess Aiko, Lamberto Hechanova, Emilio Lopez, Lino Severino, Romeo Tabuena, Larry Tronco, and Renato Villegas.  Seven artists who at the time were already known not just in Negros but in the nation's capital.  In fact, some were more known in the capital than they were in their home province of Negros Occidental.

This month of February, the Negros Season of Culture will give space and posthumous recognition to these artists who were the first among many well-known artists from Negros to follow.

Words by: Lloyd
Photos: Postcards from the Hofileña Heritage House