The ornate artistry of sculpting is a legacy left by the hands of our pre-colonial predecessors. Beyond being a mark of Filipino ancestry, the craft forges ahead as an avenue of ingenuity for artisans in the country.
Sculpting is a medium to cast compelling narratives into each surfaced mound and chiseled crevice, from miniature statuettes to colossal figures. It captures the sensibility and creativity of Filipinos who have defied colonial excision, demonstrating our resistance against conformity. Each sculptor thus shoulders the responsibility to bear life to each tale they illustrate—untethered from the conventional.
Molding ardor
The art form is liberated by its fluidity, and Michael Art De Leon’s compositions are a testament to this. The 36-year-old sculptor takes water as a focal point in his handiwork, a tribute to the bodies of water that surround his hometowns of Bataan and Marikina. De Leon steadily captures “figurative realism”, as it ripples through his works, a bow at depicting the mundane with the use of intricately sculpted human figures—every piece evocative in nature. Each figure borrows life from modeled wax clay, and through them, De Leon personifies steadfast hope, an ode to the Filipino spirit of resilience. “Bilang isang Pilipino, [pag-asa] ‘yung salitang nakaakibat sa buhay natin. Ito ‘yung salitang hindi nawawala sa buhay ng isang Pilipinong lumalaban araw-araw,” he details.
(As a Filipino, hope is the word that encapsulates our lives. It’s the word that doesn’t get erased in the life of a Filipino who fights every single day.)
This unique tenacity is shared by full-time visual artist and sculptor Orland Espinosa, whose fortified perseverance is exemplified by his robust and just as abrasively complex woodwork. Though rooted in timbered mediums, the 28-year-old has also branched out toward utilizing multilayered acrylic to visually conceive the human experience, from calamitous precipitations to melancholic nostalgia.
His profound dexterity is an innate talent, nurtured by family tradition. With the guidance of his uncles, he began familiarizing himself with the art of wood carving at the age of 13—an inherited discipline that has sharpened his expertise. “‘Yung clan namin may mga family [members] na nagwo–wood carve na, naipasa nila ‘yung skills nila sa amin,” Espinosa shares.
(Our clan has mastered wood carving for years, and that’s how the skills were passed onto us.)
Both sculpting maestros owe their vocational success to the timely cultivation of their wide-eyed interests. Their prosperous marks in the art scene capture the vitality of honing aptitude among novices from an early age. This fostering is crucial in the trade of sculpting, where the call for continual revitalization of the craft is imminent.
Hardened hands, sculpted passions
“Papawisan ka talaga. Mapapagod ka talaga,” Espina notes. Just like any other form of art, sculpting is a process that takes both time and effort, marked by tediousness and exhaustion. The rigorous process of sculpting can tire out even seasoned sculptors, with De Leon admitting to feeling unmotivated and hesitant to work on a new project altogether due to exhaustion and idleness.
(You’ll sweat. You’ll definitely get exhausted.)
However, these hardships are overturned by the rewards that a sculptor reaps from their craft. The sight of a finished sculpture standing in its full glory brings a deep sense of accomplishment after months of hard work. “It’s undeniably satisfying—every time you finish an artwork, you’ll look at it and feel proud of yourself for having created something,” Espinosa smiles.
Beyond personal satisfaction, having people appreciate and relate to their masterpieces has created a whole new sense of fulfillment, especially for an artist who has fully invested in marrying real-life themes to their creative inventions. De Leon wholeheartedly shares that the themes in his works often resonate with people’s lives, inspiring them in ways that fulfill his purpose as a sculptor. Knowing his works leave an impact on his audience reads as a triumph, which is among the key reasons he continues sculpting.
Tradition through thoughtful innovation
De Leon is optimistic about the future of the Philippine sculpting scene, believing that the public’s growing fascination with gadgets, gizmos, and galleries is to thank. To him, digital art poses an opportunity with digital tools and platforms such as 3D printing, encouraging more people to enter the creative arena. Moreover, contemporary trends allow new and aspiring sculptors to showcase their talent on larger platforms.
This optimism, however, is met with Espinosa’s concern that traditional wood sculpting may be a dying art, as fewer young artists—even from their own families and provinces—are eager to continue the legacy. “Social media and gadgets create a detachment between the physical and virtual world, which makes the younger generation disinterested in learning tangible skills like sculpting,” he laments.
While it is crucial to adapt to newer technologies, both Espinosa and De Leon emphasize the need to preserve cultural heritage in the process. They agree that the essence of artistry lies in a genuine desire and commitment to creating something meaningful. With this, De Leon advocates for free sculpting workshops to foster a deeper appreciation for the craft. These workshops are envisioned to immerse participants in the unique joy of creating art with their bare hands, all while discovering new techniques to further expand their artistry and form a profound connection with their pieces.
Sculpting is a demonstration of our indigenous mastery. Espinosa urges aspiring sculptors to remain steadfast in their commitment, reminding them that mastering such art takes time and unwavering dedication, especially in this age where modern alternatives are far more accessible than their traditional counterparts. Though its once-solid foundations may be feeble, the sculptor’s responsibility to etch and embed our cultural heritage into each crevice continues.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s March 2025 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSMarch2025.
