Lesson 1: National Artists For Visual Arts, Architecture, and Fashion Design
Lesson 1: National Artists For Visual Arts, Architecture, and Fashion Design
Lesson 1: National Artists For Visual Arts, Architecture, and Fashion Design
Ang Kiukok
Ang Kiukok was a Filipino painter known for his expressive, Cubist-
like works. He was born on March 1, 1931 in Davao City. He was
the only son among a brood of daughters of Chinese immigrants
Vicente Ang and Chin Lim. He was named Kiukok because it means
“Saving the Country”. He was a Philippine National Artist and a
Master of Filipino painter who attained prominence for his distinct
fusion of cubist, surrealist, expressionist concepts and undoubtedly
one of the most dynamic figures in Contemporary Philippine Arts.
He was known for his paintings expressing Nationalism and
Sociological agenda during the 60’s vivid cubistic figures. He was
trained in Chinese Arts with particular focus on brush and ink. In
1982, he entered the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and studied Fine Arts. In 1954, he
was awarded as an Outstanding Overseas Chinese in Art. He was also conferred Outstanding
Citizen by the City of Manila in 1976. He won the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award in
1976 and was also given Outstanding Alumnus Award by the University of Santo Tomas in the
same year. He was also awarded when one of his works became a finalist in Mobil Art Awards
in 1980. In 1990, he was feature in an art exhibit called Three Figurative Expressionists held at
the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He became the best-selling Filipino artist in auctions
locally and internationally at Sotheby and Christie. He died because of Prostate Cancer at the
age of 74 in Quezon City on May 9, 2005.
Benedicto Cabrera
Abdulmari Asia Imao was born on January 14, 1936 in Siasi, Sulu.
His family came from a generation of tokang or boat makers’ way
back to the pre-colonial era. He began showing interests for arts at
the age of nine. He was a Filipino sculptor, painter, photographer,
ceramist, cultural researcher, documentary film maker, writer and a
patron of Philippine Art and Culture. He is the first Moro to receive
the recognition.