ABOUT THE WORK

Folk subjects, with a fuse of women at work and nature, invariably adorned Tam Austria’s oeuvre. Hailing from Tanay, a 52-kilometer distance east of Angono, Rizal, the young Austria would frequently travel to Angono to learn from the great master painter. There, he absorbed his mentor’s practices of mural-making and his depiction of Philippine folk, which is clearly evident in Austria’s paintings. Regarded as one of CCP’s Thirteen Artists of 1970, Austria’s pieces centered around the locals and their daily lives. His works are marked by his linear and meticulously elegant style, a testament to his dedication and precision, ingenious sense of color, and incorporation of sepia brown tones. With this crafted technique, Austria impressively illustrated his regional folk genre and interpretation of Philippine mythology in his works. This untitled piece from 1998 depicts two women in muted hues outlined with graphite. One woman holds a bowl full of grains, while the other has a bamboo wind instrument. Birds and butterflies fly across the canvas, and falling leaves signify the breath of wind. At first glance, it could appear that they were feeding–or about to feed–some animals. Nevertheless, Austria’s images serve to highlight women and their roles and contributions to society, challenging the long-standing notion of women as mere household decorations. (Jessica Magno)