Negros’ Pintor Kulapol mixes art and environment

First posted 00:43am (Mla time) Sept 11, 2006
By Amadis Ma. Guerrero
Inquirer

http://news.inq7.net/archive_article/index.php?ver=1&index=1&story_id=20190

Editor's Note: Published on page C4 of the September 11, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

IN MARGAHA BEACH, PABRIKA, IN THE coastal city of Sagay, Negros Occidental, you will come upon the beginnings of a permanent outdoor exhibit, an assemblage of sculptural and mixed-media works which will hopefully withstand the elements.

The works consist of bamboo, twigs, branches, cloth, plastic cups and other found objects. In one such installation, bamboo palisades form a circle around a garbage heap. Yes, you are supposed to throw your refuse there, so as not to litter the beach.

The environmental artworks, expanding and evolving, are being created by a group of 12 young visual artists impishly known as Pintor Kulapol: Leo Carton, Sandy Coberos, Art Marin, Maximino Rios, Romeo Silva Jr., Noel Dumancas, Paui Vierneza, Aldin Lamis, and four brothers—Burog, Nuklar, Bogie and Trece Alvarado.

The mentor of the 12 is the father of the four brothers: Nunelucio Alvarado, Negros’ leading visual artist who has mounted many solo shows here and abroad.

Joined by his wife Sally and their numerous children and grandchildren, Alvarado has constructed several proudly native cottages made of sturdy bamboo, bamboo slats and capiz shells.

In the middle stands the artist’s two-level residence-studio, with its colorful façade and veranda, totem poles and tapestries. Claiming one’s attention is a below-the-ceiling painting of a typical Alvarado sacada maiden-amazon now transformed into a goddess of love. Then there’s a scarecrow-like figure, arms raised like an anchor about to be hurled from the prow of a ship, looming over the sea.

Struggling artists

Old Sagay (85 km northeast of Bacood City or a two-hour drive) is a fishing community, and Alvarado and Pintor Kulapol (so called because they are striving to make a name for themselves in art) have integrated with the fisherfolk, in the same way Alvarado had integrated with the sacadas (migrant workers); this inspired his long-running series of paintings of sacada workers that have found their way into collections here and abroad.
The beach art of Pintor Kulapol is interaction, all-media art, with sometimes the fisherfolk joining in. Alvarado hopes one day his children, grandchildren, Pintor Kulapol and the fishing community will take over.
And the long, idyllic beachfront will, no doubt, be covered with people’s art.