His artwork,
“Beast of Burden.”
ART is a representation of the world in colors and in strokes. It shouldn’t be discreet or hold back in being a critic of that very same world and portray its realities.
That is how art should be.It should provoke either admiration or pure disgust, bring forth an idea that has been entirely overlooked, to capture that thought in a frame and further into the spotlight.
That was how 22-year-old Ferdinand Aragon did it as he clinched the 41st National Artist Jose Joya Awards, scoring a back-to-back victory as he zooms in on the prevailing issue of child labor in the country.
In an interview with Cebu Daily News, the fourth year Fine Arts student from the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) disclosed that his winning piece “Beast of Burden” is one of the works for his thesis that hopes to spread awareness on the laws that protect children from all kinds of abuse.
“This one specifically is about child labor, which is still rampant up to this date. Though dili kaayo siya visible sa community, it exists. I
believe that the artist’s job is to initiate the discussion and inform the public about this through art. Those who will see my work will know they can do something about it, and eventually do their part,” he said.
Ferdinand’s artwork, which bested 37 other entries, is made entirely of paper and torn pages of magazines. It portrays the innocence of a young boy, adorned with two horns and a chain hugging around its fragile body.
Ferdinand Aragon, grand prize winner of the University of the Philippines 41st Joya Awards.
“I put horns since we associate labor with carabaos. It’s like these children, who are working at a very young age are treated like livestock. They won’t even get the chance to enjoy their childhood, they are deprived of their education, deprived of their health because these are all sacrificed when they are forced to work,” Ferdinand explained.
Scoring a back-to-back win—he won last year with his “Bullet to a Butterfly” artwork depicting children in times of war, which bested 51 other entries—Ferdinand said there’s no formula that guarantees a winning piece.
“Art is very subjective. It depends on the taste of the judges. Just do what is that you like to express through your work—it’s not about pleasing them (the judges),” he said.
This is actually his third win. He scored his first victory at the Joya Awards during his first year in college.
Ferdinand actively participates in church activities that aim to help less fortunate kids in Punta Princesa. From these encounters, he was able to draw inspiration for his works.
“Butter-Fly”
by Marriane
Lourdez Abenoja
“I didn’t expect to win for the third time, but I accept it for God’s glory—this talent that he has given me,” he said.
UP Cebu Fine Arts professor Karl Roque, who spoke at the event on behalf of Josefa Joya-Baldovino, the sister of the late national artist, said: “It is only through constant and progressive honing of our craft that one achieve excellence, as excellence is not an accident but rather it is a product of hardwork.”
The annual exhibit started 42 years ago following the institutionalization of the UP Cebu Fine Arts Program. A year after, an annual painting competition was named after Jose Joya, who was named National Artist in Visual Arts in 2003. Joya also served as dean of the
College of Fine Arts in UP Diliman from 1970 to 1978.
This year’s exhibit at the Jose Joya Gallery, second floor of the Undergraduate building of UP Cebu, will run from Feb. 15 to March 10.
(below are some of his work of art)
