Guillermo Tolentino was a national artist of the Philippines who worked as a sculptor representing the country from the 1920s until he passed away in 1976. This sculptor, known as the creator of the Bonifacio Monument in Manila and the Oblation statue in the University of the Philippines, is not known in the Philippines a person who was deeply inclined toward spiritualism as an espiritista. In his 1937 work ANG WIKA AT BAYBAYING TAGALOG, Tolentino wrote in poetic Old Tagalog how the spoken Tagalog language and the Baybayin script are associated with nature and the universe. In this project, while reading ANG WIKA AT BAYBAYING TAGALOG, the artist connects the sculptor Tolentino and the espiritista Tolentino to find a new image of Tolentino. In addition, the artist investigates, from the viewpoint of the emergence of creativity, the characteristics of Philippine society underlying Tolentino's work, as well as the cosmology and religion rooted in it. While conducting these survey activities, the artist simultaneously produced and presented works of art, in search of the potential for methods of expression based on this research.

Activity continued at Fellow's expense from November 8, 2016 to December 7, 2016.

Main Cities of Activity

Manila, Baguio, Santa Rosa, Siquijor

Host Institution(s) / Individual(s)

Artery Art Space

Activity Reports

プロジェクト「ギルイェルモ・トレンティーノを通して見えてくるフィリピンのスピリチュアリズムと創造性」の活動成果と展覧会「The Sculptor is a Medium」についての報告 (3MB)

Report on the results of the project "Spiritualism and Creativity in the Philippines as seen through Guillermo Tolentino" and the exhibit "The sculptor is a Medium" (3MB)