The UST College of Architecture mounted the re-curation of “The Poet of Concrete,” an exhibit dedicated to National Artist Leandro Locsin’s work, at the UST Beato Angelico Gallery on April 27.
The exhibit consisted of Locsin’s blueprints and architectural models celebrating his use of brutalistic “floating” concrete forms in the Philippines, critically regionalizing his architecture to fit the Southeast Asian and Philippine contexts.
It also included a segment titled “Lost Locsins,” dedicated to his structures that were demolished.
“Locsin was able to make concrete lyrical. It is a material seen as heavy, massive, and even oppressive for some. But in his hands and in his imagination, he was able to make it fly, cantilever, in ways that have not been done before,” Gerry Torres, an exhibit curator and a graduate of the College of Architecture, said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
The exhibit was divided into three sections: past, present, and future.
While the “past” section delved into the history and influences that defined Locsin as an architect, the “present” section emphasized his structural masterpieces that stand today.
The “future” section showcased the potential and outlook of architecture in the Philippines, where UST College of Architecture students also exhibited their design projects.
“We wanted our students not only to look at the past, but also to see the future. We wanted them to look at the exhibit and understand what makes a Locsin building a Locsin building. And in understanding that, they’re able to make their own,” Caryn Paredes-Santillan, one of the exhibit’s curators and a UST College of Architecture faculty, said.
The exhibit, while honoring Locsin’s legacy, spotlights the trajectory of architecture in the Philippines—demonstrating how it continuously evolves while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.
Locsin was conferred the title of national artist for architecture in 1990. He is known for his work on the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Church of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
“The Poet of Concrete” was first mounted in 2024 at the Design+Arts Campus of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
In partnership with Leandro V. Locsin partners, this iteration was curated by Torres, together with UST Architecture faculty members Santillan and Noel Cruz.
“The Poet of Concrete” ran from April 27 to May 22.
