Cris Velasco’s fishing villages are gracefully perched atop solid pieces of old wood or carved stone.
Each strand of brass. Each small sheet, are carefully cut, hammered, put in its proper place then welded according to a composition that only the artist sees in his mind.
There is an ongoing conversation between the artist and the materials in front of him. It is the artwork that tells the artist, it is done.
And the final creation is a pleasure to look at. One needs to look at it up close, and then from afar. ...
You need to see it from all sides. The sculpture dictates where the viewer’s eyes and body need to go next.
Even better is for the viewer to actually touch the artwork. It is encouraged by the artist. Welded so tough, coated in a brass-like paint, it is guaranteed to outlast humanity.
The real mystery is how does an intricate sculpture like these even begin? Does the artist have an image in his mind of a final outcome?
How does it manifest in his mind in the first place? Is it by looking at all the fishing villages, the little huts, the little boats, and fishing nets, as brass sticks, rods, and sheets?
A sculptor’s gift is unique because he sees everything in three-dimension. It is his instinct. His command of brass, wood and stone was a result of long years of trial and error.
Many contemporary artists who work on brass have sought inspiration from the old guards such as Eduardo Castrillo, Solomon Saprid, Napoleon Abueva, Ben-Hur Villanueva, Arturo Luz, Abdulmari Imao, Guillermo Tolentino and many more.
And while today’s sculptors toil at their craft, admittedly they are still a far far cry from the works of the past masters.
This sculptor is focused and committed to his craft. He believes that someday, all of these quaint little villages will disappear from our sight and collective thought.
Sadly, future generations won’t really know anything about them.
Perhaps it is Cris Velasco’s vision that someday he will be able to create a large-scale masterpiece as the past master-sculptors did. Massive and commanding. Powerful yet graceful. A true-to-life scale reminder of what was once a part of our landscape.
Art Circle Gallery and Heritage Art Center have proudly stood at the intersection of tradition and innovation in Philippine art. For over three decades, Art Circle Gallery, a prominent promoter of contemporary art, has actively shaped the history of Philippine art. Together with Heritage Art Gallery, a combination of 83 years of art experience has launched a wealth of talented artists from our gallery walls, many of whom have grown into some of the most revered contemporary masters today.
Our legacy is built on passion—a passion for art, for the stories it tells, and for the future it creates. Learn more >
