"Lapu-Lapu" BY: Guillermo Tolentino
Title of the Work: "Lapu-Lapu" Artist: Guillermo Tolentino When you step into the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila, one of the first pieces that might catch your eye is the magnificent sculpture titled "Lapu-Lapu" by the renowned National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. This masterpiece pays homage to Lapu-Lapu, a legendary Filipino hero who is celebrated for his resistance against Spanish colonization. The Artist, His Life, and Works: He was the fourth of eight siblings in his family. Before his interest in sculpting, he developed his guitar-playing skills, which he inherited from his father. At a young age, Tolentino displayed an early aptitude for sculpting, creating clay figures of horses and dogs. He is considered one of the most important figures in Philippine art history. Tolentino studied at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts and later pursued further studies in Europe. He gained recognition for his mastery of the art of sculpt...