o9 August 2008
Socio-realism is the term used by artists to depict their works that focus on the everyday life of the working class and the impoverished people.
It could be just an artistic style, but for local artist Gene de Loyola, it’s more than just an approach or a detailed form of color and other elements, it is an avenue where he can promote balance and development using his paint and his brush.
With his fourth solo exhibition at the Alab Art Space in the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) in Makati City, socio-realist visual artist De Loyola drives home a message of keeping the balance in the environment and bridging the gap between the social classes.
Entitled Ugnay, De Loyola explained that the exhibition aims to open a new level of awareness.
“Ugnay tells the truth. It reflects our society… Katotohanang may mayaman at mahirap. And between the two, there’s a dominant force. What Ugnay wants to do is to keep the balance because if there’s a balance, there’s a strong majority, tayo’y magiging matatag,” De Loyola said in an interview.
De Loyola was born on Sept. 10, 1956 in Naga City and started drawing at a tender age of four. When he was six years old, he was introduced by his father to Broulio Roman Dayao, who happened to be their neighbor in Quezon City. Dayao, a graduate of UP Fine Arts, was known then for his landscapes and portraiture. De Loyola was so impressed with the maestro that almost everyday from school, he would proceed to the studio of Dayao to watch him paint.
“He gave me a watercolor and a paper. Since then yung passion ko for art developed. Dun din nagsimula yung pagpipinta ko ‘on the spot’,” the artist shared.
Inspired by the beauty of nature, De Loyola’s latest offering mirrors the development in the province of Rizal where he now resides. Over 50 paintings in soft pastel, watercolor, acrylic and oil on canvass are on display at the Alab Art Space. The most outstanding displays are: Tampisaw sa Batis (35” x 45”); Pulutong (watercolor, 35”x45”); and Gubat Batlag Sapa (35”x 45”).
In 2006, the Pacheco Artists Program conferred the Gawad Artista ng Bayan Award to De Loyola. He was likewise given the prestigious Huwarang Pilipino Award for the Arts in 2003 presented by Radyo ng Bayan in cooperation with Huwarang Pilipino Foundation for his contributions to the art industry.
Known for his efforts to uphold the development of Philippine art and culture, De Loyola jointly founded Buklod Sining in 1980 with the late Papo de Asis. Buklod Sining presented the real situation of Philippine society through the visual arts.
This exhibition also aspires to encourage respect for intellectual property, particularly those in the creative sector. De Loyola’s exhibit is among the collaborative initiatives between IP Philippines and the creative industries.
“Alab Art Space was established to help the organization of budding artists. We provide the exhibition space for free. We conduct seminars to inform these groups about their rights as copyright owners,” director for Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau of the IPP Carmen Peralta shared in an interview.
Alab Art Space is an alternative venue to showcase the works of budding artists. According to Peralta, the space for exhibition is free of charge, the arrangement between them and the artists is just a 10-percent commission that will go to the development of the venue and for the seminars being conducted by the IPP.
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