The Rustic Art of Monterona

Tita Lacambra Ayala
Text from Road Map Series No. 27
Davao City, Philippines

His bamboo stick paintings are made with the use of locally-made textile paint applied on the cheapest material-chipboard. This material is locally produced in three weights and is normally used for the making of packing boxes for cakes and pastry and couturier products, and as backing for pad paper.

In this unique technique, textile paint is applied on chipboard using different shapes of flat bamboo sticks as palette and brush. Working with this medium the artist describes it to be executed with the rapidity of acrylic work and the consistency of oils. The finished pieces are brilliant and glossy.

The heavy noodle-like lines produce a sense of solidity even to the atmosphere surrounding the subjects of the paintings, expressing with naïve lines the tedium of rustic life as against the pretty postcard rusticity usually prevalent in paintings specially of an older era. As an Experimentalist he justifies his medium.

While the study of foreign art is not objectionable, the artist contends that one should not be totally influenced by it. The local artist would retain the basic native creativity and use as much local material as may be available in order to produce in his works the necessary authenticity of form and feeling. And to be truly successful in this, one should have faith in ones work and talent; this being the way to be convincing, to be truly independent as an artist, and to be nationalistic.