An extraordinary eye for the ordinary
Ramon Orlina, Dr. Joven Cuanang and Elmer Borlongan. Photo by Pepper Teehankee on a Leica C Digital Camera
I arrived early at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila for the retrospective of artist Elmer Borlongan, whom I have known for years. Despite being one of the most in-demand artists in the country today, he has remained very down to earth. For me, Elmer embodies pure kindness. His works portray the everyday Filipino, with a strong sense of social consciousness.
Elmer turned 50 this year and his must-see exhibition An Extraordinary Eye for the Ordinary, curated by Ambeth Ocampo, is a part of his body of work that spans over 20 years — from the backstreets of his home in Mandaluyong where he spent much of his youth (and where I first met him), to the fields of Zambales, where he would later spend much of his life painting. He continues to sketch every day.
This major exhibition, which showcases over 200 of Elmer’s works, is his 19th solo show. He has had several group exhibitions as well. The artworks in the exhibit include Elmer’s largest work on canvas and his small works on paper.
Elmer graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts where he majored in Painting. He was named one of the awardees of Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Awards in 1994. Some of his works are included in the public collections of Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan, the Singapore Art Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery in Australia, and the BenCab Museum and Pinto Art Museum in the Philippines. This year, Elmer is also set to release a book on his works.
The opening night of An Extraordinary Eye for the Ordinary was graced by artists, art lovers, his friends and family, including Elmer’s equally talented artist wife Plet Bolipata Borlongan. Elmer walked the members of the press through his works before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Do not miss this exhibit by one of the country’s best and most talented artists.
The show will be on display until March 28 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)
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