Conversation about Poleteismo

It all started when finally the Church noticed Mideo Cruz’s “Poleteismo” artwork included in the Kulo exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and labeled it “SACRILEGIOUS” and “BLASPHEMOUS.”

Why the Church decried so? Cruz just put a wooden penis in Christ's forehead and put Mickey Mouse's ears in his head. 

But one should be aware that Poleteismo had been in different exhibits since 2002. The reason the Church just gave a damn only now is because CCP is a government institution, and well, government and Church, they're barely in good terms with one another. 

Launched on June, Kulo is exhibited in time with Jose Rizal's 150th birthday and the University of Santo Tomas' (UST) 400th anniversary. (You can read here for more backgrounder about the exhibit.) 

And since then, opposing views flew here and there. One sided the artist's freedom of expression and the other the Church's faith. 

For me, my initial reaction was in the middle or safe or gray or whatever you call someone who does not take sides.

Well, I write for the newspaper and totally agree with an artist's freedom of expression whatever his medium might be. But, on the other hand, I also feel for the sentiments of the devout for what has been done to the image of the Son of God (even if it's unlikely of me since most people know I’m agnostic.)

Those are my views but never a view about Poleteismo itself simply because I’m not a visual artist in any way. Also my appreciation and understanding for that art does not level my appreciation and understanding for literature. To conclude I’m in no place to judge.

And then came F. Sionil Jose’s opinion in his column "The Filipino Hindsight" for the Philippine Star. This man, a National Artist for Literature, is my second inspiration in writing next to Jose Rizal, our National Hero.

His point of view, in which I immediately agreed to (because of the fact that he was one of the writers I idolize dearly), was that Cruz’s artwork was “is not—I repeat—is not an art!”

Not dropping in mind that I barely know anything in visual arts, I immediately seek the opinion of a good friend who is an artist. He is, Tupe Peralta (I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned your name!). I relayed to him F. Sionil's column (I suggest you read the column first to follow the conversation).

He was not able to read it immediately but after some hours, I received a text. It went:

T: May load na ako at nabasa yong link na sinabi mo…Nasa Senate hearing yong writer kahapon at sinabi nya din yong sinulat nya. Hehe.

Siguro tsong…talagang kanya kanyang opinyon, ang art naman lahat personal interpretation e.

Reading this, I smiled and immediately understood that he did not totally agree with F. Sionil. Unfortunately, I was the one who was not able to reply. The day passed and he sent a message following up on the topic. He texted:

T: Tsong (funny haha!) dagdag ko lang…Yong topic sa abstract painting—naniniwala ako don, na kailangan o kahit papano marunong ka magpinta o drawing...kasi akala ng tao basta magulo o kahit anong pinaghalo-halong kulay e abstract na. May art pa rin dun, color harmony, composition-na malalaman sa experience.

Kaya dun sa pinag-papa-drawing nya muna yong baguhang abstract artist e para sa akin ayos lang. 

Pero sa kabuuan, medyo minaliit nya si Mideo, na mukhang walang research at tawag lang ng damdamin yong sinulat nya. Kasi magaling magpinta yon, tapos may kahulugan yong ginawa pero nakita nya lang ay yong surface.(I should ask him what the meaning was and why it was included in the first place in the exhibit)

I was obliged to carry on the conversation because of course, one, he wanted to share what was on his mind and I wanted to hear it of course; two, he disagreed with my idol F.Sionil; and three, I was the one who started it after all. Haha! 

So here is how the conversation of a budding writer and a promising artist about art went about: 

E: Hehe, nangangati ka talagang masabi yan ano. Ayon, nag-load na ko. Thanks din sa opinyon mo. I’ll balance my view.

And you should know (that Mideo is a good painter because) you’re from UST (too) e. Hehe 

T: Strikto don (describing his school, he studied Fine Arts). Bawal nude tapos yong isang prof namin tinanggal kasi sa art nya. Parang Mideo pero mas di shocking (buen calubayan—try mo search).

E: Oooh, you say na wholesome and art ng Uste?

T: Oo, wholesome :D Alam mo, parang yong ibang young artist na sumisikat di masyadong sinasabing taga-Uste sila.(Mideo is an undergraduate of UST)

(Then back to the Politeismo) Kasi ang art naman kanya-kanyang mata. Pero napansin ko lang…Ang normal na art dito sa atin o acceptable ay magaganda. :D landscape portrait bulaklak—siguro parang huli tayo sa ganyang aspeto.

E: Yep. Maniniwala ako dahil sabi mo. Pero let’s go back to the old man and give him credit for what he said simply because he’s old and therefore has better taste than most of us have. (Oo, pinagtanggol ko si F. Sionil Jose, idol e)

T: Hahaha oo naman, lahat ay may say sa lahat ng bagay sa mundo. :D Akala ko nga dati pintor yon, manunulat pala—nakita ko sya dati hehe.

E: Maybe because of the cap he wears. Alam mo, when you have read his novels and short stories, you’ll agree that he’s the authority in creativity and believe that visual art should be at the same level.

T: Sige pag may pera bili ako ng books nya :D

Siguro madami na siyang experience…Yong same level—medyo wala pa naman sa National Artist si Mideo, try mong tumingin ng works din ng national artist ng visual arts. :D

At na judge lang yong artist sa isang work.

E: OK, I understand. I think it would be better if Sionil said “bad art” not “bad artist”. But of course, sabi mo nga, kanya-kanyang mata.(At napaniwala akong may mali din talaga si F.Sionil)

T: Tama!! Kanya kanyang mata. Hahaha may interview yong artist bukas sa motorcycle diaries ni jay taruc. Dagdag pagkilala.

E: San yong motorcycle diaries?

T: Sa GMA News tv., Yong dating QTV.

E: Ahh, malamang di ko mapanood. Haha. Nga pala, ba-blog ko usapan natin (ito na). Hehe.

T: Haha ikaw bahala :D

Anong book ang okay o paborito mong gawa ni Sionil (tama ba tanda ko sa name?)

E: Yes tama. Paborito ko sa ngayon yong Olvidon compilation of shorts nya.

T: Meron ba nun sa National (Bookstore), yong book? Tingnan ko mamaya hehehe

E: Yep meron. I recommend it best kasi doon diversified yong themes, issues that he could dwell upon. Magaling pramis. Hehe.

***

I was saying all throughout that F. Sionil is my idol but did I mention that this friend is also an idol??? Because idols, teach you valuable lessons, and tells things worth sharing such as this. :)