VISUAL ART ANALYSIS

Angela Nicole L. Olazo

1.2 BPED | Prof. Renz Villacampa | Art Appreciation

Daang Ligid-Krus: A Visual Art Analysis

by Alfredo Esquillo Jr.
VISUAL ART ANALYSIS
Angela Nicole L. Olazo
1.2 BPED | Prof. Renz Villacampa | Art Appreciation

Alfredo Esquillo Jr., an acclaimed and multi-award winning contemporary painter from
the Philippines graduated in Fine Arts with a Major in Painting from the University of Santo
Tomas, Manila in 1993. He established himself amongst well-known names such as Elmer
Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, and Jos John Santos III as an artistic force to be reckoned with.

Artist Alfredo Esquillo Jr. makes paintings and installations that center on the daily and
social happenings of contemporary Filipino life. Concerned with representing the complexities of
his culture, Esquillio's works often reference popular culture and religious motifs within a post-
colonial context. His works are heavily influenced by the bible (from the studies of his father who
guided him to find purpose in his works) and the folk religiosity in Quiapo which happened when
Renato Habulan, his mentor, took him to Quiapo to witness the celebration of the Feast of the
Black Nazarene.

In 1996, Esquillo painted his award-winning work, “Daang Ligid Krus” (Maze) illustrating
his interest in folk religion, survival, and salvation. The painting is an allegory of Philippine
Catholic life that transforms a particular event, the Feast of Souls and Saints, into a sustained
discourse on the Filipino Way of the Cross.

Religiosity is a key theme in “Daang Ligid Krus”, Esquillo's artwork, as the artist engages,
interrogates, and struggles with the staunch Catholic faith in the Philippines. What is religiosity?
Different scholars have seen this concept as broadly about religious orientations and degrees of
involvement or commitment.

Religiosity, measured at the levels of individuals or of groups, includes

experiential, ritualistic, ideological,intellectual,consequential, creedal, communal, doctrinal, mo
ral, and cultural dimension. Sociologists of religion have observed that an individual's
experience, beliefs, sense of belonging, and behavior often are not congruent with their actual
religious behavior, since there is much diversity in how one can be religious or not.
VISUAL ART ANALYSIS
Angela Nicole L. Olazo
1.2 BPED | Prof. Renz Villacampa | Art Appreciation

“Daang Ligid Krus” shows how believers and worshippers participate in and are often
enjoined to perform devotional or contemplative practices such as prayer, meditation, or
particular rituals in celebration of various feasts such as the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Feast of
the Sto. Nino and many more. Worship, moral conduct, right belief, and participation in religious
institutions are among the constituent elements of the religious life and they feel more closer to
God when participating in what has become a tradition. On the other side of the story, Esquillo
depicts the actual behavior of the Filipino devotee as a drunkard and immoral. The maze is a
journey of the Filipinos in their Catholic faith.

On my own interpretation of the work of Artist Esquillo, the journey of the Catholic
faithful should not end on mere religiosity but a deeper relationship with God. Catholic faith is
not all traditions and rituals. Participating in masses, processions and other celebrations are just
part of being a Catholic. One cannot go to mass and then go on with his or her immorality after
going to church. One cannot participate in processions thinking that they would be closer to God
by putting a tireless effort in the activity. Our Catholic faith does not grow on religiosity alone
but rather doing God’s will, being kind, generous and compassionate and having a personal and
deeper relationship with Him. The cross reminds us of God’s love and that will save us from the
maze of life.

References
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5904715
https://www.askart.com/artist/Alfredo_Esquillo_Jr/11155649/Alfredo_Esquillo_Jr.aspx
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2018/12/24/1879381/masked-prophets-
march-on
https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/businessmirror/20181204/282200832010562