“WE don’t actually enjoy the final print,” National Artist Awards nominee for Visual Arts Fil Delacruz said of the thrill in printmaking. “[Rather], the artist, the printmaker, enjoys the process—the tedious process. It’s a technique that requires patience and determination for the pursuit of artistic excellence.”
“In painting, you get simultaneous gratification, wherein you can see the result as you go along. In printmaking, you cannot see the result until you go to the press and print it,” he added. “Sometimes it’s very rewarding. Sometimes it’s frustrating. And that makes me excited about the process. I love the challenge.”
A former president of the Association of Pinoyprintmakers (AP), Delacruz was fielding questions from a handful of reporters, standing beside his artwork hung on the walls of Gallery C in Conrad Manila. The master printmaker forms part of the featured artists in the group exhibition, titled 20/30: A Limited Edition Print Exhibit, along with some of the noted members of the AP, in cooperation with The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The presentation serves as a fund-raising event for the celebration of CCP’s 50th anniversary, with the funds set to support efforts to promote printmaking in the country. The exhibition is also the curtain-raiser of the hotel’s “Of Art and Wine Series” for 2022, as Conrad Manila celebrates its fifth anniversary.
“We are delighted to celebrate both our successful fifth year of operations and market leadership through the continued patronage of our guests and resiliency of our team, together with the 50th anniversary of the CCP,” said Linda Pecoraro, Conrad Manila general manager. “We recognize the CCP’s continued passion and pursuit of Filipino artistry and excellence together with the AP, as we hope to inspire others in our continued recovery as one nation.”
20/30 is an open-themed group show that had its initial run in September last year at the CCP Little Theater Lobby. But due to the surge of Covid-19 cases at the time, the exhibition welcomed little turnout. Gallery C curator and former CCP president Nestor Jardin then requested to the CCP that the exhibition be carried over to their space to support its cause.
Delacruz credits Jardin for being a long-standing ally of Philippine printmaking. When Jardin was still CCP vice president and artistic director in the early 1990s, he gave the AP space in the Folk Arts Theater and facilitated donations of printmaking machines from the French government.
20/30 opened at Gallery C on January 24, but only had its formal reception recently when Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 1. The show runs until April 2.
Delacruz presents in the exhibition a piece, titled Sulyap, featuring his recurring images of a diwata, which he considers his muse. “Before, I had a problem of what to do next in front of a plate. Now, all I have to do is to think about diwata. How will I present her today. How will I interact with her today.”
In Sulyap, Delacruz has created a soft portrait of her—the face slightly tilted to the left, as streaks of flora shoot from her head. The artist used his specialty of the monochrome printmaking process called mezzotint, which falls under the family of Intaglio techniques.
Of course, printmaking involves a wide range of processes. 20/30 presents a good look at some of them, from relief printing to serigraph printing, from woodcuts to drypoint prints, and more.
The exhibition is divided into two folios. The first one offers editions of 20 prints by 15 artists, while the second presents editions of 30 prints by 25 artists.
Delacruz’s artwork figures in Folio I, rightfully alongside some of the biggest names in Philippine printmaking. These include National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Alfredo Juan Aquilizan, Virgilio Aviado, Elmer Borlongan, Benjamin Torrado Cabrera, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, and Jess Flores. Part of the cluster as well are Ofelia Gelvezón-Téqui, Raul Isidro, Manuel Ocampo, the late Rod Paras Perez, Rodolfo Samonte, and Juvenal Sansó. Also featured in this folio is one of the final artworks by the late Neil Doloricon.
Folio 2 features mid-career artists, who, in the words of CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Chris B. Millado, “in two to three years time will join the ranks of masters.” Showcased in this folio are Ambie Abaño, Leonard Aguinaldo, Mars Bugaoan, Kristen Cain, Salvador Ching, Joey Cobcobo, Janos Delacruz, Yas Doctor, Noell EL Farol, and Eugene Jarque. This group also features Villia Jefremovas, Lenore RS Lim, Angelo Magno, Hershey Malinis, Jonathan Olazo, Caroline Ongpin, Renan Ortiz, Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, Radel Paredes, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, the late Rhoda Recto, Jun-Jun Sta. Ana, Suchin Teoh, Wesley Valenzuela, and Anton Villaruel.
According to Millado, printmaking remains an “underrecognized” artform in these parts. However, he believes in the medium’s accessibility, in terms of its familiar techniques and subject matter, as well as its pricing and sizing.
“If you’re looking at starting your own art collection, prints are a perfect entry level,” he said. “They’re more affordable, don’t need much wall space, and they’re easy to maintain and preserve.”