![]() These heartrending paintings may be important for the art historian, but are definitely not decorative enough for the living or dining room walls in the gated Makati villages. I remember this story from high school it helped me understand his early paintings in 1934-1945 that, after an unsuccessful attempt at aping Fernando Amorsolo, were filled with images of the hungry, the homeless, and the miserable, thus commenting on the social conditions of his time long before what is now known as “social realism” became fashionable. Ocampo’s most anthologized short story “Bakya” (1938) articulated his empathy for the working class. It was an unsold rarity at the old Heritage Art Center in Cubao, and I wonder where it is today. ![]() In the early 1980s I leafed through a typescript of his poems composed and illustrated for his mistress in the 1950s. It is not well known that before he turned to painting full-time, Ocampo expressed himself through words and was a founding member of “The Veronicans,” a prewar group of writers that included future National Artists for Literature Francisco Arcellana and N. Ocampo.” He was proclaimed National Artist for Painting as an afterthought-13 years after his death. Official recognition came late for Hernando Ruiz Ocampo, better known for the way he signed his paintings: “H.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |