TACLOBAN CITY—More than two years after super typhoon “Yolanda,” mixed media artist Dante Enage launched his third solo art exhibit entitled “Usbong: Vision of Hope” at Robinsons Place Tacloban.
“The new series of my artwork depicts the experience of my homeland during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda—on acceptance, letting go, and moving forward,” said Enage in a statement.
“I inject clues about the context and interpretation of the painting using baybayin, the pre-Hispanic text of the Filipino. The pieces I create are meant to educate and raise awareness, and serve as a thought-provoking work of art,” he added.
The exhibit, comprised of 39 paintings which Enage made after Yolanda, opened on March 3.
Karen Tiopes, tourism regional director, lauded Enage for his “visual interpretation of rays of hope and resilience” of the Yolanda survivors through his art works.
“Dante tells our story, our strength, and our determination to rise above ourselves,” said Tiopes, calling him “hope bearer.”
According to Enage, he was pushing for tuba (coconut wine) medium in most of his works to continue the legacy left by the famed Leyte tuba artist Leo Villaflor.
“To aspiring artists, just keep on practicing. If they lack budget to buy materials, they can use ballpen or pencil in the meantime. What is important is they keep on enhancing their skills,” Enage said when asked for his message to budding artists.
Aside from being the current president of the Kasi-kasi Art Association Inc., Enage is also a tattoo artist and a band member of Kultura, Arte at Himig.
Enage’s artworks have been recognized in the country and showcased overseas. In 2013, he won first place in the Philippine Visual Arts Festival sponsored by National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
“At present, one of my artworks is being screened for the National Museum of Fine Arts in Taiwan,” he said.
“This event is a major exposure for our artists who are Yolanda survivors themselves, this will show how their works are progressive. Since we lack venues, we can solve that by creating an outlet where we bring art to the people,” said Aaron Almadro, editor in chief and creative director of Eastern Visayas’ only travel magazine, 8 Magazine.
Almadro, who organized the event along with other sponsors, said that more local artists will be featured in a similar exhibit in the city soon.
