In celebration of the National Arts Month and the 75th year of the UP presence in Iloilo, UP Visayas opens its fourth gallery in the Main Building, Iloilo City campus, with an art exhibition titled ‘Leading Lights.’
Leading Lights at the Hanas (Changing Exhibition Gallery 2) is an exhibition of paintings, prints, and sculpture from the UPV Art Collection and reintroduces some Filipino trailblazers who became distinguished icons of modernism in the country. It also makes familiar those who followed after them to become, in their own right, forerunners in the contemporary artistic paths they have chosen to navigate, succeeding these leading lights.
Leading the eminent group are six National Artists – Jose Joya, Carlos Francisco, Arturo Luz, Ang Kiu Kok, Cesar Legaspi, and Napoleon Abueva.
Completing the list are the other art stalwarts Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., Constancio Bernardo, Virginia Flor-Agbayani, Romulo Olazo, Brenda Fajardo, Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi, Solomon Saprid, Mauro Malang Santos, Leon Pacunayen, Rock Drilon, Fil dela Cruz, Ely Santiago, Norberto Lito Carating, Manuel Baldemor, Alfredo Liongoren, and Leonilo Doloricon.
With a fund grant from the Commission on Higher Education, the pre-war Iloilo City Hall (which was donated to establish UP in Iloilo in 1947), has recently been converted into an art and cultural heritage exhibition and performance venue. In December 2021, three galleries in this Main Building were opened: the Ed Defensor Gallery, the Nelfa A. Querubin Gallery, and Lantip (Changing Exhibition Gallery 1). Set to also open soon are Panapton (Textile Gallery), Dunâ (Intangible Cultural Heritage Gallery), and Taliambong (UPV Art Gallery).
Leading Lights is curated by Martin Genodepa. It will run until 30 June 2022.
The exhibitions are open to the public on Mondays to Fridays (except holidays) from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Due to health and safety protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic, only ten persons at a time may be allowed inside the galleries. Wearing of face masks is also a must. While walk-ins are welcome, please call (33) 337-9159 or contact UPV OICA via Messenger if you wish to book your visit to the galleries.
