Kabigting Honors Consulate General with a Vibrant ‘Sa Kabukiran’ Gift

By Marivir R. Montebon 

 

All creativity is an expression of the divine in us – Fernando Kabigting

 

New York City — Artist Fernando Kabigting, on Thursday July 30, presented a gift (Sa Kabukiran, acrylic) to Consul-general Mario Lopez de Leon Jr. as a token of gratitude for the support of his solo exhibit Beyond Seeing at the Philippine Center in June 2015.

Ms. Menchu C. Kabigting, in a courtesy call, said it was a successful and memorable event due to the support of Amb. de Leon and his staff, led by Ms. Olive Osias, and the Filipino community of New York. “We were pampered from start to finish, thank you,” she said.

Amb. de Leon said ‘Sa Kabukiran’ will stay and beautify the interior of the official residence of the Consul-general in Manhattan.

Seeing Beyond was sponsored by the Philippine Consulate of New York and the Department of Tourism. It featured new creations of Kabigting rendered on hardwood from train tracks in Iloilo where he is currently residing. His art pieces were all sold out in this solo exhibit.

Now on his 50th year as a consummate artist, Kabigting is known for his Batya series in his first exhibition in the US. He revealed that his first exhibit was in 1967, in Cebu, at the SSS Bldg. on Jones Avenue (now Osmena Blvd.)

After a debilitating stroke which paralyzed half his body, he resumed painting with his left hand and has ‘become so much better’ as an artist, employing stronger colors and hues of deep purple, fierce red, and brilliant yellow.

With his amazing recovery from stroke and the enrichment it resulted on his works, the artist has become even more inspiring for everyone to emulate. Community leader Vivian Talambiras Cruz said Kabigting could very well deserve the status of a national artist.

The Kabigtings will be back in the Philippines today and the artist will begin working on another exhibit at the Ayala Museum for 2016.