victorio edades (1895 – 1985)
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From his earliest years, Edades showed passion and talent in the field of art and teaching. Growing up in Dagupan, Pangasinan, he was nicknamed ‘Apprentice Teacher’ in his art class in the seventh grade. After high school, he moved to America and obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Washington, living years in Seattle and taking a special interest in Modern art as well as architecture.
While in college, Edades participated in the Annual Exhibition of North American Artists (amongst other art competitions) and won second prize for his entry, The Sketch, in 1927. His studies in the U.S. brought a deep appreciation for artists such as Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne and the Surrealists, which reflected in his art.
When Edades returned home to the Philippines in 1928, he found the local art scene to be stunted and uninspired. In reaction, he prepared a one-man show for the Philippine Columbia Club in Ermita, where he aimed to show the crowds what was new and exciting in the world of art. Though his thirty paintings (including those that had won accolades in the U.S.) brought a fair crowd and caused a stir, the audience was apparently not ready for this contemporary style of art and the overall response was shock and disapproval. Not selling a single painting at his first big show back home did not discourage Edades, though. He would devote much more time and energy on opening minds in the Philippine art community to recognize the beauty in his beloved Modern art.
In 1930, Edades played a major role in organizing the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Department of Architecture, acting as its head. After five years, he was appointed Director of the college’s Architecture and Fine Arts, where he made sure to incorporate a curriculum similar to what he’d experienced in America including foreign languages, science and history of both Eastern and Western worlds. Edades would spend three decades educating and expanding the possibilities for education at UST.
In 1934, Edades was commissioned to create a mural at the Capitol Theater on Escolta Street (Manila) by Juan Nakpil and chose for his assistant Carlos Botong Francisco, who was then working as an illustrator at the Philippine Herald. Francisco brought Galo Ocampo in to help, who would continue working closely with Edades and Diosdada Lorenzo in opening the Atelier of Modern Art at Manila’s M.H. Del Pilar (1937), and later in forming the “Thirteen Moderns”. Spearheaded by Edades, this group of progressive Modern artists included Ocampo, Francisco, Lorenzo, Vicente Manansala, H.R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Anita Magasayay, Demetrio Diego, Ricarte Puruganan, Jose Pardo, Bonifacio Cristobal and Arsenio Capili.
Significantly improving the social standing of Modern art, Edades helped to organize the School of Design with Nakpil, and was featured in The Herald Mid-Week Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine and “This Week” of the Manila Chronicle for a lively ongoing debate opposite Guillermo Tolentino that had everyone weighing in on Modern art’s virtues and weaknesses.
In 1951, Edades continued furthering his cause by founding the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) and the Philippine Art Gallery (PAG). In 1961 he received the Pro Partia award at the Rizal Centennial Celebration. Three years later he also received the Araw ng Maynila Award in Painting. By 1976, he was given the National Artist Award in Painting and one year later, on February 12, UST awarded Edades the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa. He was then 70 years old.
Edades tried retiring to Davao City with his family, but couldn’t deny the call to teach and make art. He continued his work until he died on March 7, 1985, having changed the face of art education in the Philippines and the perception of Modern art for so many of his compatriots.
Notable Works
While in college, Edades participated in the Annual Exhibition of North American Artists (amongst other art competitions) and won second prize for his entry, The Sketch, in 1927. His studies in the U.S. brought a deep appreciation for artists such as Gauguin, Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne and the Surrealists, which reflected in his art.
When Edades returned home to the Philippines in 1928, he found the local art scene to be stunted and uninspired. In reaction, he prepared a one-man show for the Philippine Columbia Club in Ermita, where he aimed to show the crowds what was new and exciting in the world of art. Though his thirty paintings (including those that had won accolades in the U.S.) brought a fair crowd and caused a stir, the audience was apparently not ready for this contemporary style of art and the overall response was shock and disapproval. Not selling a single painting at his first big show back home did not discourage Edades, though. He would devote much more time and energy on opening minds in the Philippine art community to recognize the beauty in his beloved Modern art.
In 1930, Edades played a major role in organizing the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Department of Architecture, acting as its head. After five years, he was appointed Director of the college’s Architecture and Fine Arts, where he made sure to incorporate a curriculum similar to what he’d experienced in America including foreign languages, science and history of both Eastern and Western worlds. Edades would spend three decades educating and expanding the possibilities for education at UST.
In 1934, Edades was commissioned to create a mural at the Capitol Theater on Escolta Street (Manila) by Juan Nakpil and chose for his assistant Carlos Botong Francisco, who was then working as an illustrator at the Philippine Herald. Francisco brought Galo Ocampo in to help, who would continue working closely with Edades and Diosdada Lorenzo in opening the Atelier of Modern Art at Manila’s M.H. Del Pilar (1937), and later in forming the “Thirteen Moderns”. Spearheaded by Edades, this group of progressive Modern artists included Ocampo, Francisco, Lorenzo, Vicente Manansala, H.R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Anita Magasayay, Demetrio Diego, Ricarte Puruganan, Jose Pardo, Bonifacio Cristobal and Arsenio Capili.
Significantly improving the social standing of Modern art, Edades helped to organize the School of Design with Nakpil, and was featured in The Herald Mid-Week Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine and “This Week” of the Manila Chronicle for a lively ongoing debate opposite Guillermo Tolentino that had everyone weighing in on Modern art’s virtues and weaknesses.
In 1951, Edades continued furthering his cause by founding the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) and the Philippine Art Gallery (PAG). In 1961 he received the Pro Partia award at the Rizal Centennial Celebration. Three years later he also received the Araw ng Maynila Award in Painting. By 1976, he was given the National Artist Award in Painting and one year later, on February 12, UST awarded Edades the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa. He was then 70 years old.
Edades tried retiring to Davao City with his family, but couldn’t deny the call to teach and make art. He continued his work until he died on March 7, 1985, having changed the face of art education in the Philippines and the perception of Modern art for so many of his compatriots.
Notable Works
- 1928 – The Sketch, National Museum Collection
- 1928 – The Builders, Cultural Center of the Philippines Collection
- 1935 – Interaction, kasama si Carlos V. Francisco at Galo B. Ocampo
- 1976 – Demoiselles D’avao
- 1979 – Kasaysayan, a mural for a Manila bank