Provenance:
Private Collection

ABOUT THE WORK

Nowhere has there been a more successful synthesis of indigenous Islamic aesthetics and Modern art than in the inventive works of National Artist Abdulmari Imao. A native of the Philippine’s southernmost region of Sulu, Imao is no stranger to the vibrant culture and practices of Muslim Mindanao. His interest in art first started in 1954 when a floating art exposition docked at Sulu. Artist Tomas Bernardo saw Imao’s fascination with the exhibit and urged him to take his chances in Manila. Imao unfortunately fell short of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s scholarship program, barring him from admission due to his lack of funds. But Imao was a man of stalwart determination. Thus, he marched himself to the Malacanang in order to ask for aid from President Ramon Magsaysay. He was met by one of Magsaysay’s appointees, Secretary Jose Maria Ansaldo, who decide to help him get into the University of The Philippines Diliman’s College of Fine Art. Under the tutelage of a number of Filipino masters such as Napoleon Abueva, Anastacio Caedo, and Guillermo Tolentino, Imao managed to hone his craft by combining traditional techniques with Moro elements. His unique practice eventually led him abroad where he pursued further studies, in North America and in Europe. Today, Imao is celebrated for his unique use of Muslim influences such as Islamic calligraphy, traditional Lumad colors, and the iconic curved motifs found in indigenous Mindanaoan architecture. Fusing Islamic design and symbols and ornamental motifs with Cubism techniques, he popularized the indigenous geometric flowing design or the ukkil, the serpent or the naga. This particular piece showcases one of Imao’s most iconic subjects, the sarimanok. A mythological creature found in a number of Mindanaoan cultures, the sarimanok is said to symbolize good fortune. The inherent subtext behind the sarimanok’s importance is emphasized in Imao’s clean lines and overall technicolor palette, effectively signifying that better days are yet to come.