Filipino artist Frederick Epistola will be showcasing the Philippines’ rich and exuberant culture and living traditions through an art exhibition entitled “Hugis and Kulay” at the Katara Art Center in Doha, Qatar. He is the first Filipino artist to hold an exhibit at Katara.
The exhibit is on display at Building 22, Gallery 2, Katara Art Center from August 25 through 30. It is hosted by the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar, with support from the Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts Sentro Rizal.
The exhibit features 15 paintings and 15 sculptures that give an outlook into the Philippines’ past, the history that shaped it—the people and their values, their philosophy and beliefs—and their everyday way of life, and its enrichment through time.
Using colors, textures, and perspective, the paintings and sculptures aspire to showcase the Filipino cultural panorama that is made rich with the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its people.
Drawing inspiration from the themes of national identity, ethnicity, diaspora, cultural influences, and the affirmation of the native race, language, and culture, Epistola aspired to show in his artworks his reflection and reaction to these common historical and collective experiences, which not only affect Filipinos, but all societies in the world.
“In exploring these themes, I hope for my artworks to be the virtual bridge where people can come together to share common knowledge, even if we see and understand the world in different ways; to engage in discussions of anything and everything that affect our communities, without the limits of our borders; and to simply create that connectedness when appreciating a piece that speaks personally to us,” he said.