CEBU, Philippines - As different art exhibits and shows have been described as products of misguided contemporary clichés, Huning Lumad stands out as one of Cebu's more unique art exhibits this year, focusing on a rare gem that is found in the annals of Filipino Culture - the age-old traditions and the modern day cultural innovations of the Talaandig.
Presented by the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, Huning Lumad gathers more than 25 soil paintings artistically crafted by members of the Talaandig Indigenous People (IP) community, defining it as an art collection AND as veritable proof of how the Talaandigs have successfully preserved the unique elements and aspects of their culture.
As one of the seven indigenous communities hailing from Mt Kitanglad and the Dulang-dulang Mountain Ranges in Bukidnon, the Talaadigs are among the few IP communities who have successfully maintained their traditional culture and belief practices, with Talaandig community members keen on preserving and sharing the cultural treasures handed to them by their elders.
Through Huning Lumad, Cebuanos can readily see how rich the Talaandig culture truly is, as well as witness how it has thrived amidst the influx of today's modern lifestyle mainstays and ongoing cultural diasporas.
Officially celebrating its launch last October 26, 2012, the Huning Lumad exhibit was backed by a series of soil painting, instrument playing and performance workshops, each respectively held last October 26, 27 and 28.
Though the scheduled Huning Lumad workshops are over, the Huning Lumad soil painting exhibition, along with its traditional musical instruments exhibit, will be ongoing until the end of the month, affording Cebuanos with the chance to further explore and learn about the Talaandig, their culture and their art.
As the modern markers of contemporary art is said to have already lost itself through constant experimentation and evaluation, a dose of "the past coming to the rescue" is often described as always welcomed, as a means of reaffirming art's role in capturing beauty in all of its forms.
Huning Lumad, as an exhibit, breaks down the artistic boundaries imposed by contemporary aesthetic mindsets, bringing its viewers to the past, to the cultural standards of beauty and wonder as perceived by the Talaandig's new generation.
Huning Lumad will be on exhibit until the end of November in the Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, located in V. Gullas St, cor D. Jakosalem St, Cebu City. The museum is open between 9AM to 5PM, Tuesdays to Saturdays. (FREEMAN)