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拍品專文
Carlos V. Francisco, better known as Botong, was responsible for revolutionising the fine arts landscape of the Philippines. He departed from the prevailing style of the Amorsolo academic and launched the modernist movement with his fellow founders of the Modern Triumvirate, Victorio Edades and Galo Ocampo. Their realist depictions were divergent to the idealised romantic norms then. Magpupukot (Pulling in the net) is an excellent example of his realist renderings.
Painting the lives of the fishing community was one of Botong's favourite subjects. Angono, his hometown where he was based, was a fishing village. There were enough sources of inspiration readily available to him. He was especially affected by communal life and their resident values and customs. The scene in Magpupukot (Pulling in the net) is a hearty depiction of fishermen reeling in the nets to avail the catch of the day. Botong filled the entire canvas making the spatial composition crowded and busy with details, stretching the visual to each end of the canvas. The clear fluid lines lead the eyes to every expression, taut muscle and sinewy fibre of the fishermen. The artist's empathy for the fishermen and passion to accurately represent can be seen and felt by strokes swept by the paintbrush and the coloured energy of the scene. The solid execution of the bold and brilliant colours echos the endurance, vigour and infectious dynamism of the work. One can almost feel the weight of the net. With a keen appreciation of folk values, the artist created great synergy between the vivid colours and kinetic rhythms of the fishermen, almost literally moving the work to life, symbolising the intoxicating energy of the pioneers who contributed to the wealth of the current nation.
Botong is renowned for his large scale mural paintings which were drawn from the very same source as the ones for Magpupukot (Pulling in the net) - the people. The customs and traditions held close to the hearts of the Filipino people have become a vehicle for him and made accessible his style to create a refreshing new imagery. This affinity with historicity interested him to research on the Filipino legacy and also became apt material for him to draw from. Because his inspirations lie with the people, his works were valuable in their nationalistic inclinations. Botong's magnificent murals have become an icon of Filipino art history. His visual enactments celebrate the artistic roots of his culture, his images impressed by the ardent dedication and colour of the Filipino people.
This work was shown in a retrospective exhibition for the artist, Botong: Alay at Alaala, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 17 November 1989 - 25 January 1990.
Painting the lives of the fishing community was one of Botong's favourite subjects. Angono, his hometown where he was based, was a fishing village. There were enough sources of inspiration readily available to him. He was especially affected by communal life and their resident values and customs. The scene in Magpupukot (Pulling in the net) is a hearty depiction of fishermen reeling in the nets to avail the catch of the day. Botong filled the entire canvas making the spatial composition crowded and busy with details, stretching the visual to each end of the canvas. The clear fluid lines lead the eyes to every expression, taut muscle and sinewy fibre of the fishermen. The artist's empathy for the fishermen and passion to accurately represent can be seen and felt by strokes swept by the paintbrush and the coloured energy of the scene. The solid execution of the bold and brilliant colours echos the endurance, vigour and infectious dynamism of the work. One can almost feel the weight of the net. With a keen appreciation of folk values, the artist created great synergy between the vivid colours and kinetic rhythms of the fishermen, almost literally moving the work to life, symbolising the intoxicating energy of the pioneers who contributed to the wealth of the current nation.
Botong is renowned for his large scale mural paintings which were drawn from the very same source as the ones for Magpupukot (Pulling in the net) - the people. The customs and traditions held close to the hearts of the Filipino people have become a vehicle for him and made accessible his style to create a refreshing new imagery. This affinity with historicity interested him to research on the Filipino legacy and also became apt material for him to draw from. Because his inspirations lie with the people, his works were valuable in their nationalistic inclinations. Botong's magnificent murals have become an icon of Filipino art history. His visual enactments celebrate the artistic roots of his culture, his images impressed by the ardent dedication and colour of the Filipino people.
This work was shown in a retrospective exhibition for the artist, Botong: Alay at Alaala, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 17 November 1989 - 25 January 1990.