Of Lightness and Translucence

CEBU, Philippines — Porcelain figurines are unique items in the creative arts sphere – light to the touch, translucent to the eye.

At one point revered as “white gold” in the history of material objects and home accent pieces, porcelain has been pegged as a timeless compound that, as artwork, speaks of reverie and exquisite craftsmanship in the arena of aesthetics and design.

Praiseworthy porcelain figurines were the highlights in a recent event in town – the Cebu launch of the Lladro brand’s limited-edition “Bullfighter” figurine by Spanish sculptor Raul Rubio. Held late last month at the third level of Rustans Ayala Center Cebu, it was more than a celebration of the Valencia, Spain-based brand’s traditional porcelain-making processes, what with Rubio, the sculptor of the launched limited-edition piece, himself present at the event.

Rubio related that he, as an artist, draws inspiration from styles that are championed by the masters of the Renaissance era, and that this creative charge is true as well with the five other Lladro in-house sculptors. Mentioning the works of Michelangelo Bounarroti as a major influence, Rubio’s creative views and how it balances with his fellow Lladro sculptors drew a creative cognizance that outlines the creative breadth of Lladro as a brand that prides of its handcrafted figurines in classic, modernist and contemporary styles.

In a time when “new” is quickly mistaken to be “bolder” and “better,” the 1953-established brand’s approach in blending the superlative values of the classics with the advances of contemporary art give porcelain figurines a timeless and refreshing flair – setting it as a form of art that’s molded by cultural shifts and creative progression, and mainly characterized by lightness and translucence.