Upon reaching the NCCA building, I found that the main gallery was closed, much to our disappointment. Luckily, there was an alternate exhibit being held at the lobby.
The first exhibit was more localized; it celebrated the art of weaving in the Philippine tribes. There were photos of individuals who were awarded for their dedication in Philippine tribal arts. Naturally, all those individuals came from a specific tribe. Needless to say, it showcased different cloths and weaving patterns. A traditional wooden weaving instrument was also displayed, as well as a kulintang and other instruments.
I would have to say that this exhibit is not new to me. Philippine Arts and Design (PARTDES) is required in my course. In other words, I had already seen and studied these subjects; however, it is commendable that we showcase and value art from our country more.
The second exhibit was more international. It displayed various festival or ceremonial masks used in different Asian countries. There were also miniature dolls dressed in traditional costumes and miniature replicas. Aside from this, cloth and weaving patterns were also displayed.
I would have to say that it was actually rather amusing to observe the international masks that were shown. They reminded me of our own festival, Moriones. I do think the miniature dolls lacked something. In my opinion, it would have been better if they showed the actual costumes instead of showing a smaller version of it because it would help the viewers in appreciating what they’re trying to show. The miniature replicas, on the other hand, were quite impressive. The one of a large palace was particularly notable for its attention to detail. The cloths and patterns were also amusing, in the sense that they were so similar to our own.
Woven cloth from around Asia that are very similar to ours!
Although I was unable to go into the main gallery, I could still see some of the works being displayed. I observed that the paintings mostly paid tribute to the various indigenous tribes in our country. A good number of paintings used brilliant colors, which were definitely eye-catching and gave the feeling of being uplifted. There were also various sculptures, which I unfortunately could not observe at a nearer distance. I could see that some of them looked like a warrior.
Before and after the play, we took a short walk outside Intramuros to observe its architecture. One of its most interesting traits is its Spanish influence. You rarely see houses and buildings nowadays that have been preserved in this manner, which contributes to its beauty. The architecture here made use of pillars and arcs, both European innovations that were first brought to us by the Spaniards.
The information may not be new, but no one can deny that Intramuros is indeed brimming with culture and art.
An impressive carving on a large door.
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