Collage for Beginners @ UP Vargas Museum

Collage for Beginners
UP Jorge B. Vargas Museum,
University of the Philippines,
College of Arts and Letters, Roxas Ave.,
Diliman, Quezon City.
(January 22, 2007 to February 4, 2007)

Kids are invited to experience bullfighting in a different way through National Artist Arturo Luz's Torero exhibit of large-scale collages made out of matador's suits.

As part of the museum's educational program, children will learn what bullfighting is all about (a lost sport in the Philippines after the end of the Spanish colonial rule). They will also be encouraged to share their stories by creating their own collages.

As a continuation of Arturo Luz's 80th birthday celebrations, the UP Vargas Museum exhibits Torero, featuring commissioned collages from the El Cirkulo collection. The collages comprise of geometrical patches of red or black, pieces from old and new bullfighters' costumes, and bull's hide.

Painter, sculptor and designer Luz received the title National Artist for Visual Arts in 1997. He is best known for his linear art and his series on street musicians, vendors, cyclists and carnival performers. He also sculpted using wood, concrete and metal.

In 1995, Luz worked with designers Tina Bonoan and Ramon Castellanos who designed the famous Spanish bar and restaurant El Cirkulo along Pasay Road in Makati with Arch. Raul Locsin. Owner Malu Gamboa met with Bonoan and Castellanos in Madrid to find toreros' attire and large pieces of hide to create an authentic feel of the Spanish sport of bullfighting to the collages. Once in the hands of Luz, he took apart portions of the outfits and arranged them on painted panels resulting in artworks that called attention to the highly ornamental ensemble of bullfighters as well as uniqueness of Luz's ingenious creativity.

The eight featured collages are among the ten Luz has made for the Spanish bar and restaurant. Although displayed in the restaurant, they have never been launched publicly. UP Vargas Museum is proud to host this exhibition with partners El Cirkulo and the Avellana Gallery.

Collage for Beginners will be on view from January 22, 2007 to February 4, 2007 at the UP Jorge B. Vargas Museum located at the University of the Philippines, College of Arts and Letters, Roxas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. For more details, please call 928-1927 or email vargasmuseum@gmail.com.