About the Event
Don “Lumad” Santana, an educator and artist known for his rich display of authentic Filipino indigenous art, will be mounting his first ever solo show entitled “Tinta, Pintura, at Kultura” at Sining Kamalig Art Gallery.
With portraits adorned with intricately rendered details in warm and earthly colours, Don’s artworks depict the gem of Filipino ethnicity. The details that constitute his compositions are symbolisms that form the story of the indigenous Filipino.
While he uses shades of orange and red, complemented with hues of green depicting the colours that predominate indigenous Filipino culture, he leaves the face uncoloured in several of his works. This, according to Don, is the “raw” or the natural, the very fibres of the indigenous Filipino. Through closed eyes in some of the portraits, the artist communicates the concept of the “unseen beauty of culture.”
His interest in art developed early upon exposure to the comic illustrations of his father, Jose T. Santana and his uncle, Mar T. Santana. His penchant for art led him to Maestro Fernando Sena’s art workshop at the Vargas Museum where he studied for five years.
When asked about his style, he expressed that finding one’s own style is a journey “beyond norms.” Apart from existing global art movements, his journey led him back home, to who he is—a Filipino.
His art is coloured by an advocacy—“to preserve through the arts the indigenous groups and cultures of the Philippines.” This explains his pseudonym, “Lumad,” a representation of the rich variety of Filipino ethnic groups in the Philippines. Today, in his own art school, Don enjoys inspiring aficionados toward realizing their own creative abilities.
Sining Kamalig is located at the Upper Ground Floor of Ali Mall, corner General Romulo Ave and P. Tuazon Blvd, Araneta Center, Quezon City, Philippines. The exhibit will run from 09 December 2018 to 10 January 2019 (closed for the Holidays 22 December 2018 - 02 January 2019) and will be open during holiday gallery hours: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. For more information, you may contact +632-912-3771 or art@worldexperience.ph.