Artists shine in Gallery of the Sea

Manila Bay became a virtual art gallery as artists used boat sails as their canvas, which were displayed yesterday for public viewing and final judging of the unique on-the-spot painting contest.

The painting competition, dubbed the "Gallery of the Sea," took place last April 22 and 23 at the Kanlungan ng Sining at the Luneta Park. From the initial 30 entries, nine finalists were chosen for three categories — pristine, salvation and destruction.

Yesterday’s event was a unique outdoor display of sailboat art jointly sponsored by the Arts Association of the Philippines (AAP) and the Manila Yacht Club in cooperation with Earthsavers.

The event is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The first prize was awarded to Jeffrey Samonte for his painting "Bangkang Papel" under the pristine category. He received P30,000 for his creation.

He also shared in the P10,000 prize money for the People’s Choice Award with Rex Tatlonghari, who submitted an entry under the destruction category.

Favored to win the event was Aner Sebastian, but only bagged the second prize for his entry in the salvation category titled "Preservation." He won P20,000 for his work.

Demosthenes Campos took third place and received P10,000 for his entry "Sea Blossom" under the pristine category.

The board of judges was composed of National Artist for Literature Alejandro Roces Jr., National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva, former senator and environment secretary Heherson Alvarez, newspaper columnist Belinda Cunanan, Commodore Ildefonso Tronqued Jr. of the Manila Yacht Club, NCCA national committee on visual arts head Chris Rollo, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Ana Senga of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.

The "Gallery of the Sea" is a reprise of a pioneering sailboat painting contest held in 2002, which was then conceptualized by Earthsavers by Alvarez.

‘Bangkang Papel’

Samonte, the winning artist, believes that he inherited his talent from his grandfather, a Liwayway Magazine and Hiwaga Komiks illustrator.

His aunt Lydia Velasco is a feminist painter while his five siblings are also skilled artists.

His love for the craft prompted him to take up Fine Arts at the Technical University of the Philippines.

"I like the idea of displaying my works in public because it erases the misconception that paintings are only for rich people. I would also like to show my work at a gallery so that my message can reach a lot of people," Samonte said.

He is currently a member of the artists’ group Artery Manila.

For his 8‘x9‘ acrylic on canvass "Bankang Papel" can be interpreted in two ways, he said. "The paper boats symbolize innocence. We hope that adults would be able to keep the innocence of children because more often than not, it is the adults who pollute the environment."

A paper boat on a flowing stream is also "like making a wish, wishing for people to help preserve the environment."

On the right lower corner of the canvass are two hands that appear to be carrying nature’s problems such as pollution, floods and forest denudation. "It is like saying that the fate of the world is in the people’s hands." – With Nestor Etolle