The UP Fine Arts Gallery (Parola) was filled on Sept. 20 as the exhibition Old Iskul, Old is Cool opened with works from 75 alumni of the UP College of Fine Arts spanning the 1970s to the 1990s.
The show, held at the Parola Atrium, drew students, artists, and art enthusiasts in a gathering that celebrated memory and legacy. It was organized by Paul Albert Quiano and curated by Jim Orencio.
The display highlights themes of memory, discipline, and experimentation, mapping the artistic legacies of the CFA community and their ongoing influence on Philippine art.
The earliest work on display is former Dean Nestor O. Vinluan’s 1971 oil painting Windows, alongside his recent acrylic piece Looking Through for the Love of Trees. Other featured works include Elmer Borlongan’s 1986 oil painting from Roberto Chabet’s class and his 2014 piece Larga Vista. Many works span 15 to 30 years, showing the transition from student experiments to contemporary practice.
The exhibition’s title emphasizes pride and heritage, reflecting the history of CFA, founded in 1908 as the country’s oldest arts and design institution. Alumni featured in the exhibition include those who studied in the 1970s at Gonzales Hall, those who attended Bartlett Hall in the 1990s, and artists who experienced major historical events such as the Marcos dictatorship, People Power I, the Asian financial crisis, and the turn of the millennium.
Quiano said the exhibition began as informal conversations among friends and grew into a larger project bringing together alumni to showcase both past student works and recent creations. The exhibition examines shifts in artistic practice, from figuration to abstraction, craft to conceptual work, and analog to digital methods, while engaging with broader social and historical concerns.
The opening reception highlighted the continuing impact of the CFA community, with attendees reconnecting over shared histories. In the coming weeks, artist walk-throughs and talks will allow audiences to learn more about the stories behind the works. Details will be shared through Parola’s official channels.
Old Iskul, Old is Cool runs until Oct. 4 at the Atrium, UP Fine Arts Gallery (Parola), Arts and Design West Hall. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission is free.
For press inquiries, images, or interviews, contact the organizing team at old.iskul.old.is.cool@gmail.com, Paul Quiano at paularquiano@gmail.com, or Daphne Aguilar at daphneaguilar2015@gmail.com.
