Pinoy artist holds brass sculpture exhibit in Brussels

An art exhibit that featured 21 intricately made brass sculptures of Filipino artist Michael Cacnio was recently held at the Berlaymont building in Brussels, Belgium.

The Philippine Embassy in Brussels said Cacnio is the first Filipino artist to hold an exhibit at the Berlaymont.

The Embassy, in cooperation with the Directorate General for External Relations of the European Commission, featured the Filipino artist in an exhibit dubbed “Philippine Perspectives: A Collection of Sculptures by Michael Cacnio” From Sept. 17 to 21.

Philippine Ambassador to Brussels Cristina Ortega and European Commission Director General for External Relations Eneko Landaburo opened the exhibit.

Ortega stressed the importance of 2007 which marks the 30th anniversary of the relationship between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional bloc that includes the Philippines.

“2007 is the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community. It is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the ASEAN Declaration which gave birth to ASEAN,” Ortega said.

The exhibit is the first of a series of events organized to commemorate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations.

Ortega said that the ASEAN-EU partnership has spanned the areas of political, economic, social and development cooperation.

She added that ASEAN and EU still have much to learn from each other. Cultural exchanges also need to be intensified and the sculpture exhibit is an example.

Landaburo said that people-to-people interaction was important in building stronger inter-regional relations.

He expects enhanced ASEAN-EU relations and the Philippines, with its historical and cultural legacy, could play a vital role in bringing the two regions closer.

Cacnio is considered one of the Philippines’ finest brass sculptors today. His works have earned critical acclaim as well as commercial success in the Philippines, Singapore and the US.

Testament to his strong following in the art world are his numerous successful exhibits and consistent positive reviews from critics and collectors alike.

Cacnio was chosen as one of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2006 for his achievement and contribution in the field of art.