HERNANDO RUIZ OCAMPO (1911–1978)
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Hernando Ocampo, born in the Santa Cruz district of Manila, was a man of many talents who enjoyed not one but two successful careers in the arts.
After graduating high school at Manila’s YMCA, Ocampo attended Letran College, pursuing a degree in pre-law at his father’s urging. These classes didn’t seem to hold his attention well enough, though, and he was soon spending all of his time and energy on writing short stories and poetry instead. Narciso G. Reyes, later to become a Philippine ambassador, joined Ocampo to form the Veronica Writer’s Group. The Veronicans, as they would come to be called, developed into a prolific group of progressive young writers. Ocampo enjoyed a successful writing career for many years, being published in Taliba newspaper, Manila Sunday Chronicle magazine and then moving into script writing and directing television, even producing for the Filipino Players Guild. Perhaps one of his most famous works, short story “We or They” illustrates class struggle through oppressions and difficulties experienced by the Filipino proletariats under the ruling class.
Through his writing and directing career, Ocampo got to know the visual artist community and was soon a part of their folds, joining a group of modernists founded by Victorio C. Edades called Thirteen Moderns in 1938. Ocampo also became a member of the Saturday Group of artists (Taza de Oro Group). It was reportedly in the 1950’s that Ocampo’s art career really kicked off. Completely self-taught, his striking pieces continued making the same statements often found in his writing; sometimes poetic tributes to his homeland’s flora and fauna, other times stark and unweilding social statements whose messages could not be ignored. He quickly moved from showing locally in the Philippines to exhibiting in New York and Washington, London and Tokyo. His artworks commenting on his country’s state after World War II put him famously in league with neo-realists Vicente S. Manansala and Cesar Legaspi. His most acknowledged work, Genesis, would serve as the basis of curtain design at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater, and he would also play a major role in preserving the Philippine Art Gallery (his country’s first). Although he died at the young age of 67 in Caloocan, many years later he was posthumously declared the National Artist for the Visual Arts (1991) and his brilliant artwork and legacy remain a major source of pride for his beloved country and influence to artists worldwide.
List of Major Visual Art Works:
Ina ng Balon
Calvary
Slum Dwellers
Nude with Candle and Flower
Man and Carabao
Angel’s Kiss
Palayok at Kalan
Ancestors
Isda at Mangga
The Resurrection
Fifty-three “Q”
Back drop
Fiesta
Mother and Child
Easter Sunday
Genesis
List of Some Awards Received
1948 – 6th Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Nude with Candle and Flower
1949 – 3rd Prize, Manila Club Art Exhibition, for Angel’s Kiss
1950 – 1st Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Arabesque
1950 – 2nd Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Man and Carabao
1951 – 1st Prize and Special Award, Art Association of the Philippines, for Ancestors
1951 – Honorable Mention, Art Association of the Philippines, for Intramuros
1954 – 3rd Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for 53-E
1954- Republic Cultural Heritage Award
1965 – Republic Cultural Award
1955 – Honorable Mention, Art Association of the Philippines, for 54-A
1958 – 2nd Prize and Purchase Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Nativity
1969 – 1st Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Circle
1969 – Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award, from the City of Manila
1976 – Diwa ng Lahi Award, from the City of Manila
1979 – Gawad CCP para sa Sining Award, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines
After graduating high school at Manila’s YMCA, Ocampo attended Letran College, pursuing a degree in pre-law at his father’s urging. These classes didn’t seem to hold his attention well enough, though, and he was soon spending all of his time and energy on writing short stories and poetry instead. Narciso G. Reyes, later to become a Philippine ambassador, joined Ocampo to form the Veronica Writer’s Group. The Veronicans, as they would come to be called, developed into a prolific group of progressive young writers. Ocampo enjoyed a successful writing career for many years, being published in Taliba newspaper, Manila Sunday Chronicle magazine and then moving into script writing and directing television, even producing for the Filipino Players Guild. Perhaps one of his most famous works, short story “We or They” illustrates class struggle through oppressions and difficulties experienced by the Filipino proletariats under the ruling class.
Through his writing and directing career, Ocampo got to know the visual artist community and was soon a part of their folds, joining a group of modernists founded by Victorio C. Edades called Thirteen Moderns in 1938. Ocampo also became a member of the Saturday Group of artists (Taza de Oro Group). It was reportedly in the 1950’s that Ocampo’s art career really kicked off. Completely self-taught, his striking pieces continued making the same statements often found in his writing; sometimes poetic tributes to his homeland’s flora and fauna, other times stark and unweilding social statements whose messages could not be ignored. He quickly moved from showing locally in the Philippines to exhibiting in New York and Washington, London and Tokyo. His artworks commenting on his country’s state after World War II put him famously in league with neo-realists Vicente S. Manansala and Cesar Legaspi. His most acknowledged work, Genesis, would serve as the basis of curtain design at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater, and he would also play a major role in preserving the Philippine Art Gallery (his country’s first). Although he died at the young age of 67 in Caloocan, many years later he was posthumously declared the National Artist for the Visual Arts (1991) and his brilliant artwork and legacy remain a major source of pride for his beloved country and influence to artists worldwide.
List of Major Visual Art Works:
Ina ng Balon
Calvary
Slum Dwellers
Nude with Candle and Flower
Man and Carabao
Angel’s Kiss
Palayok at Kalan
Ancestors
Isda at Mangga
The Resurrection
Fifty-three “Q”
Back drop
Fiesta
Mother and Child
Easter Sunday
Genesis
List of Some Awards Received
1948 – 6th Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Nude with Candle and Flower
1949 – 3rd Prize, Manila Club Art Exhibition, for Angel’s Kiss
1950 – 1st Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Arabesque
1950 – 2nd Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Man and Carabao
1951 – 1st Prize and Special Award, Art Association of the Philippines, for Ancestors
1951 – Honorable Mention, Art Association of the Philippines, for Intramuros
1954 – 3rd Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for 53-E
1954- Republic Cultural Heritage Award
1965 – Republic Cultural Award
1955 – Honorable Mention, Art Association of the Philippines, for 54-A
1958 – 2nd Prize and Purchase Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Nativity
1969 – 1st Prize, Art Association of the Philippines, for Circle
1969 – Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award, from the City of Manila
1976 – Diwa ng Lahi Award, from the City of Manila
1979 – Gawad CCP para sa Sining Award, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines