Bag-ong Hinan-aw (New Perspectives)- A Contemporary Cebuano Figurative Painting Exhibit

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Figurative Art in Cebu owes its sense of realism and classical ardor to the late Martino Abellana and those he mentored, particularly Romulo "Molong" Galicano. Since the eighties, Galicano has taught and encourage a band of Cebuano artists to excel in the academic techniques of figurative painting, and who has since emerged as the leading edge of a new generation of figure painters. They include Boy Briones, Pepe Villadolid, Carly Florido, Dodong Tallo, Jun Impas and Jonathan Galicano. 
 
Bag-ong Hinan-aw (New Perspectives) is a brief survey of this new movement in Philippine art that combines academic technique with contemporary vision that combines tradition, innovation, and Cebuano creativity to a new degree of excellence. 
 
Publio "Boy" Briones (b. 1949) originally graduated with a BS and MBA from UP before learning how to paint during landscape sorties by fellow Cebuanos in the provinces. He subsequently took watercolor workshops and sketching classes at the National Academy of Design in New York (1987-1994). Mentored by Romulo Galicano, Briones focuses on interior scenes of churches and figurative genre with a dramatic chiaroscuro effect. 
 
Carlos "Carly" Florido (b. 1940) is a self-taught artist who has been guided by Romulo Galicano upon returning to the Philippines from the United States. He has been a member of Kolor Sugbu since 1993 and has participated in group shows in New York, Washington D.C. and Germany (1993-1994). He participated in the "Homage to the Masters" at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (2002) and "Ode to the Pasig River" exhibition at the Ayala Museum (2006).
 
Jonathan Villanueva Galicano (b. 1978) finished Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2003. He was recognized for his innate artistry since his elementary student days at Our Lord's Grace Montessori School, where he was hailed Artist of the Year. Jonathan has participated in nine group exhibits, and has done several mural projects throughout the country. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America, and the Ugnayan Filipino Arts Foundation. 
 
Romulo "Molong" Galicano (b. 1945) studied as an apprentice to Martino Abellana in Carcar. He subsequently took Fine Arts Studies at the University of the East. He became a member of the Dimasalang Group of Artists, and is renowned for his Manila streets capes, portraits of Manila's elite social circles, and his recently developed semi-abstracted style of figurative painting. 
 
Florentino "Jun" Impas is a consistent winner in art competitions since his high school student days in Surigao del Norte. His most recent awards include: the Excellence Award at the China- ASEAN Youth Artwork Contest (2008), and 2nd prize at the GSIS National Painting Competition (2009). Impas has held five solo exhibits, the last being at Art Center, SM Megamall (2009). Currently based in Cebu City, his specialty is in portraiture and rural figurative genre subjects.  
 
Facundo "Dodong" Tallo Jr. (b. 1952) was a self-taught artist in Carcar, before arriving in Manila in 1979 to study under Romulo Galicano. His first exhibition was an all Cebuano Artist Show in 1980, followed by "Habagatang Arte" (1985) and "Kolor Sugbo" (1989). He specializes in still life and interior scenes. 
 
Jose "Pepe" Villadolid (b. 1946) first learned to paint from his uncle Diosdado Villadolid. He met Romulo Galicano in 1991 who taught him more pointers. Pepe then took up painting professionally in 1998. He has participated in several group exhibitions at Casa Gorordo Cebu (1998 and 1990),: Rustan's Cebu (1989); San Diego, California (1991): Cebu City Museum (1992); New York (1993); Cebu SM Art Center (1996, 1997, 2006); Metropolitan Museum Manila (2002); Ayala Museum (2006) and Vargas Museum (2006). Pepe Villadolid won the Grand Prize for the Martino Abellana painting competition in 1996. He is the son of the Bantayan painter Pedro D. Villadolid.
 
Some examples of the mentioned artists in a collection although not necessarily figurative.
 







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