Two new exhibits have opened at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage (MACH).
Piña Ka Matahum A Legacy of Creativity and Craftsmanship in Lantip Changing Exhibition Gallery 1 showcases samples of piña fabrics fashioned into clothes, shawls, barongs, fans, panuelos, and placemats.
Balansagon Art by National Artists in Hanas Changing Exhibition Gallery 2 presents works by 11 of 18 National Artists.
Piña weaving in Aklan has been included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2023 attesting to the uniqueness of the tradition of making fabrics from the leaves of the pineapple plant, something that was also done in Iloilo and the whole of Panay Island during the Spanish colonial period.
Creations by piña master weaver Raquel Eliserio from Aklan, Sinamay House of Arevalo, Patis Tesoro, and Gang Gomez are some of the interesting items in Piña Ka Matahum.
While Iloilo may be far from the commonly-regarded art center that is Manila, UP Visayas, as well as some Ilonggo art collectors, have collected several works by artists who were eventually awarded the title of National Artist. These include Jose Joya, Fernando Amorsolo, Jerry Elizalde Navarro, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Ang Kiukok, Napoleon Abueva, Hernando Ocampo, BenCab, Arturo Luz, and Botong Francisco.
Both exhibitions, curated by Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts Director Prof. Martin Genodepa, continue the museum’s thrust to present the best of local art and cultural heritage.
Other current exhibitions in UPV MACH: Panaput Articles of Clothing (Panapton Textile Gallery); Lubiok Hiligaynon Art (Taliambong UPV Art Gallery), Duna Intangible Cultural Heritage (Intangible Heritage Gallery), Latid Breadth and Measure (Ed Defensor Gallery), and Pulus Function and Form (Nelfa Querubin Gallery).
The UPV MACH is open Monday to Saturday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Interested groups and individuals may message UPV MACH or UPV OICA on their Facebook pages, or call 3379159 for scheduled visits.
