Photo / Alliance Franรงaise de Manille
Manuel Baldemor is known today as the “People’s Artist” for his “pictorial dissertation of the realities of Philippine society.”
His career as an internationally renowned artist started when he used pen and ink to depict the beauty of his hometown, Paete, Laguna. His mural work, Paete I, Tahanan, won the grand prize at the Art Association of the Philippines Art Competition and Exhibition in 1972, when he was 25 years old.
A similar pen-and-ink mural, Paete 2, won the same grand prize the following year. His consecutive wins enabled him to represent the Philippines at the XIV International Art Exhibition in Paris in 1973. Art critics Paul Zafaralla and Leonides Benesa then named him “People’s Artist.”
His 1972 artistic debut, The Graphic Art of Manuel D. Baldemor, at the Hidalgo Gallery, marked the beginning of his unique folk style that celebrates Filipino cultural heritage. Combined with a high degree of craft, author Manuel Duldulao declared it a “pledging allegiance to an almost forgotten standard of excellent draftsmanship.”
Photo / Paete I from the Encyclopedia of Philippine Art
In 1983, Baldemor won his third gold prize from the Annual Art Association of the Philippines for his prints.
He expanded his expertise by experimenting with other media, such as watercolor, acrylic, tempera, oil on canvas, woodcut, ceramics, glass, handmade paper, grass paper, and fine prints. In 1982, the artist won the Grand Prize in the sculpture category at the Annual Art Association of the Philippines competition.
In 1992, the Cultural Center of the Philippines named him one of the Thirteen Artist Awardees in recognition of his contributions to Philippine art and his country.
His work, deeply rooted in Filipino tradition, also embraces global artistic practices. It is influenced by his residencies and collaborations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, and each countryย he visited became the subject of his artworks.
In 1995, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his career through a series of exhibitions at the Art Center of SM Megamall.
Three years later, then-President Fidel Ramos became his honorable guest for the inauguration of his mural, Pasasalamat. The mural is now a permanent attraction in the hall of the United Nations Center in Vienna, Austria.
In 1999, Baldemor exhibited his 100th one-man show, Distinctive Milestone, at the Art Center of SM Megamall. The exhibit showcases the culmination of his skill and talent as a sculptor and painter.
Photo / Alliance Franรงaise de Manille
Many of his pieces are exhibited abroad, such as his painting Philippine Skyworld, which was inaugurated at the United Nations Building in New York City. Baldemor also represented the Philippines in the 3rd Inami International Wooden Sculpture Camp in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, where he created the sculpture Pamilyang Pilipino.
French artists Francois Sand and Sylvie Henot transformed his painting of the People Power Revolution into a mosaic in 2009. The mural was inaugurated and installed at the Basilica of St. Therese de Lisieux, France, and now rests in a place of pilgrimage visited daily by Catholic devotees from all over the world.
For 18 consecutive years, reproductions of his works adorn UNICEF cards and are sold worldwide.
โSomewhere in Franceโ Exhibition at Alliance Francฬงaise de Manille
Photo / Alliance Franรงaise de Manille
The Alliance Francฬงaise de Manille is honored to present Somewhere in France, an exhibition showcasing Baldemor’s remarkable artistic journey.
The collection celebrates Baldemorโs extensive artistic explorations in France, which began in 1973 when he represented the Philippines at the XIV International Exhibition in Paris.
Somewhere in France, which opened on December 12, 2024, highlights the artistโs technical mastery and dedication to bridging cultures and fostering understanding between the Philippines and the world.
The exhibitย offers a rare opportunity to delve deeper into Baldemor’s works, which span multiple decades of his career, from early travels to international acclaim. It highlights his enduring connection to France, drawing inspiration from its landscapes, people, and culture.
Somewhere in France will be on view at the Alliance Franรงaise de Manille Gallery,ย 209 Nicanor Garcia, Bel Air II, Makati, until January 25, 2025. For more information, visit www.alliance.ph.
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