Filipino art at the National Gallery of Singapore

The National Gallery of Singapore has in its collection several important works of art by Filipinos including the works of Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and Fernando Amorsolo. These, along with other similarly important works from other ASEAN and Asian countries are exhibited from time to time. In particular, they are often part of a theme on nation's developing their identities and the struggles each country went through to become independent not just from foreign occupation and influence but also from internal tribulations during their own trying periods. Following are some photos we took at the National Gallery of Singapore last weekend featuring the exemplary works of Filipino artists.

Sculpture by Napoleon Abueva and painting by HR Ocampo

Painting by Arturo Luz

'Defend thy honour' by Fernando Amorsolo

Distinctive work of Jose Joya

Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo's masterpiece 'Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho'

We were actually surprised to have overheard a museum guide trying to explain the meaning of Hidalgo's masterpiece and mistakenly allude to it as if it had nothing to do with the Philippines. In fact, the guide was overheard by the Clairvoyant as stating the Juan Luna and Hidalgo were Spanish and not Filipinos. We wanted to correct the guide but had to restrain the nationalists within us knowing such actions might have unwanted and unexpected repercussions in a country where people are not known to take such corrections lightly even though they are truly erring on the matter.

'Mother Nature's Bounty Harvest' is a collaboration of three national artists - Victorio Edades, Galo Ocampo and Carlos "Botong" Francisco

The last photo on the collaborative work by Edades, Galo Ocampo and Botong Francisco is gigantic and reminded me of other collaborative works including those by national artists who were assisted by their apprentices who themselves later became national artists themselves.

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