THOMASIAN alumni artists commemorated popular Philippine festivals through traditional and digital paintings in Pagdiriwang ng Pistang Pilipino, an exhibit in the Beato Angelico Gallery at the Beato Angelico Building last May 14-21.
The Thomasian Alumni Society of Artists (TASA), a newly formed group of College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) graduates, portrayed in their works events from the country’s popular festivals, particularly those held in the month of May where more than 140 feasts are celebrated.
“We injected a festive theme in our first art show to display not only the colorful fiestas of the Philippines but also the genial and exuberant art style the members of this group has,” CFAD Assistant Professor and TASA adviser Noli Vicedo said in an e-mail to the Varsitarian.
The 19 participating artists from batch 2005 to 2015 enlivened festivals like the Blessed Mother devotion Flores de Mayo, the Pahiyas Festival of Quezon, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Tacloban, the Dinamulag Mango Festival of Zambales, the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival of Cebu, the Lang-ay Festival of Mountain Province and the MassKara Festival of Bacolod.
The Beato Angelico Gallery was also festooned with colorful banderitas and flowers complementing its festive theme.
In his two featured paintings, Vicedo used vivid shades of tempera paint, a fast-drying medium made of colored pigment mixed with water and a viscid material such as egg yolk, depicting Flores de Mayo and Lang-Ay Festival.
TASA President and advertising arts alumna Dawn Llanera said the exhibit marks the start of an annual art show devoted to Philippine culture and heritage.
“After this timely exhibit, as the month of May is when most feasts in our country are held, we are looking forward to showcase more of TASA’s works annually and hopefully we can exhibit outside the University soon,” she said.
Established on May 2015, TASA was conceptualized by Vicedo along with advertising arts alumni Jay Donato and Paul Patricio. The alumni group aimed to “innovate talents and sharpen skills,” hence the acronym TASA—a Filipino term meaning “to sharpen.”
