Iridescent Philippines

Remember "showing changing colors as light falls" and "truly rainbow-colored"? Well, this is Philippines.

Mariano Akerman, Philippines Iridescent | Iridiscente Filipinas, 2006

A few ideas by José Rizal (1861-1896), the Philippine National Hero, multilingual medical doctor, poet, novelist, sculptor, painter, naturalist and fencing enthusiast, who was also the author of "El sentimiento de lo bello" (The Feeling of the Beautiful), 1882:

“Dado por Dios al hombre y por el hombre perfeccionado […] es el sentimiento de lo bello. […] El que previó la desigualdad y la vana suerte entre los hombres, les dio este dulce sentimiento.” El hombre “adivina lo delicado” cuando en él se presenta el sentimiento de lo bello. / En el camino de la vida el sentimiento de lo bello es la única planta sin espinas. / “Queriendo darle forma [a tal sentimiento], expresarle, hallar para él al símbolo, una vestidura, el hombre inventó las bellas artes.” / Un recuerdo querido, una poesía tenue y delicada, un canto del corazón[, … ] los pocos momentos felices de la vida” son conservados por el arte, la más universal de las concepciones de los hombres.

Translation: Given by God to man and perfected by the latter one is the feeling of the beautiful. The One who designed the inequality of men and their ephemeral condition, gave them this tender feeling as well. Along the road of life, the feeling of the beautiful is the only plant with no thorns. Willing to give shape to such a feeling, to express it, to find the symbol for it (a dress), man invented the fine arts. / A cherished recollection, a delicate piece of poetry, a song from one’s heart, the few joyous moments of life—all of them are preserved by art, the most universal of men’s conceptions.

Several stimulating reasons have brought me to Rizal’s beloved country, where I reside since 2003. This is a land of fiesta and siesta, water buffalo and tarsiers, sampaguitas and meriendas, tons of rice and colorful fish, delicious mangoes, captivating calachuchies, 70.000.000 of people and a jeepney called El Shaddai. Here, in the more than 7.000 islands of the Philippine archipelago, the breathtaking impact of the sun can easily make most landscapes here wholly iridescent. Well, at least this is supposed to happen when you see them with the eyes of the artist…

PHILIPPINES IRIDESCENT Copyright © Mariano Akerman | The beautiful. Jose Protasio Rizal, 1861-1896. White Beach, Boracay. Chocolate Hills, Bohol. Hidden Valley, Alaminos. Rice Terraces, Banaue, Ifugao. El Nido and Underground River, Palawan. Whale shark / Butanding, Donsol. Philippine jeepney. Taal Volcano, Tagaytay. Nature and Culture. Filipiniana. Digital art. Communication. Dialogue. Art appreciation. Education.

William Carlos Williams, "Patterson," 1946-48, bk 4

A dissonance
in the valence of Uranium
led to the discovery

Dissonance
(if you're interested)
leads to discovery



Tarsier | Tarsio

Una disonancia
en la valencia del Uranio
llevó al descubrimiento

Disonancia
(si te interesa)
conduce a descubrir

_____

Akermariano (Mariano Akerman), Architect, Art Historian, Painter, Researcher, Curator, Lecturer. Born in Buenos Aires in 1963. Specializes in Visual Communication. EDUCATION: Architect (1987) and Art Historian (1999). ART EXHIBITS: 1979 Ministerio de Educación, Argentina. 1984 Casa de la Pintura Argentina, Buenos Aires. 1986 Galería RG en el Arte, Buenos Aires. 1987 International Arts Exhibition, Shizuoka, Japan. 1988 Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires; Feria de las Artes, Barcelona, Spain. 1989 Alliance Française de Buenos Aires; Galerías Pacífico, Buenos Aires; Fundación Cultural Banco de Boston, Buenos Aires. 1990 Centro Cultural San Martín, Buenos Aires; Banco Federal Argentino, Buenos Aires; Galería de Arte Contemporáneo, Buenos Aires; Banco Holandés Unido, Buenos Aires. 1991 Galería Saint Margaret, Buenos Aires. 2003 Oakwood Premier Ayala Center, Manila, Philippines. 2005 The National Museum, Manila; Alliance Française de Manille. 2006 Ateneo de Manila University. 2007 Residence of Sweden, Manila. 2008 IFWA Center, Islamabad. AWARDS: 1979 Cantegril Painting Award, Punta del Este, Uruguay. 1980 Consejo Nacional de Educación Prize, Argentina. 1983 The Berlinerblau Prize in Graphic Design, Buenos Aires 1987-88 Two Distinctions in Architecture, Universidad de Belgrano 1988 Banco Francés del Río de la Plata Incentive Award. 1989 Distinction "Bicentennaire de la Révolution Française," Alliance Française de Buenos Aires. 1991 ABN-AMRO Bank Visual Communication Prize, Amsterdam. 1995 British Council Grant in Art History, London. 2005 Embassy of Belgium in Manila Laborum Praemia (Art-Appreciation Lectures, Art Show and Magritte Competition). 2006 Ateneo de Manila University Diploma in Argentinean Culture Diffusion. 2007 University of Santo Tomas Token of Friendship, Manila; Lyceum of the Philippines University Certificate of Appreciation in the Sciences and Arts, Intramuros; De La Salle University Token of Friendship; M.G.I.S. Prize in Interdisciplinary Education, Pasay City; Ateneo de Manila Token of Friendship; Feati University Token of Appreciation in Architectural Studies, Santa Cruz, Philippines; Embassy of Sweden in Manila Certificate and Laborum Praemia (The Linnaeus-Manila Lectures and Competition Program).