was a Filipino painter

known for rejecting

academic tradition and
embracing Western
modernism. He worked as
a curator for the
Presidential Museum at
Malacañang Palace, and
was later appointed
director of the National
Museum. Ocampo
graduated from the School
of Fine Arts at the
University of the
Stylistically, his paintings showcase the
influence of Cubism, Surrealism, and
Expressionism on his works. Often blending
Christian themes with references to Filipino
indigeneity, one of his most controversial
works—The Brown Madonna (1938)—uses
Filipino subjects in its use of the “Our Lady
and Child” image, while also including
references to the Philippines (specifically,
bamboo trees and a bahay kubo[vernacular
house]). In 1956 the Archbishop of Manila
sent Ocampo Rome to design stained glass
The “Brown Madonna” was
portrayed in the Malay likeness
of Filipinos, with the landscape
of the Philippines in the
background. The second
version of “Brown Madonna”
was created in 1983 by the artist
himself for a close family friend -
the subject matter remained the
same albeit with a few changes
in style, rendering, and detail,
most notably the foliage. The
 The crucifix by Galo Ocampo
which is quirkily shaped after
the crucifix (at the Basilica di
Santa Croce in Florence) of pre
- Renaissance Italian artist
Cimabue makes for a
realization of what he learned
from his Italian sojourn, both in
painting and in the discipline
behind stained glass. In the
same way that after his Italian
sojourn he did various images
Galo Ocampo imbued this image of the
suffering Christ with layers of meaning by
overlapping traditional Christian
iconography and the socio-historical context
of the 1950s when his imagery bore distinct
influences of the devastation of the Second
World War, from which the 'Flagellant'
theme arose. Christ stands as the lone
figure in the painting, backgrounded by an
expanse of earth that meets the pale blue
sky. Interestingly, Ocampo has conveyed
Christ in the manner typically used to depict
the martyr St. Sebastian, whose body was
 The memories that the art of Galo
Ocampo revitalizes are in accordance with
his aim of recording and communicating
historic events, and his deeply felt
 The surreal scene is
reminiscent of Ocampo's
post-apocalyptic
reflections on the
devastation wreaked by
the Second World War. It
also pays homage to
Ocampo's field work in
Palawan where he
 Philippino-born and educated
until travelling to complete further
studies at the Accademia Italiana in
Rome followed by the Pratt Graphics
Centre in New York, sculptor Impy
Pilapil has developed an extensive
oeuvre over a 35-year career and
continues to be very active in the art
world from her humble studio back in
the Philippines. Along with her
impressive sculptures and installation
pieces Impy is an active member of
the World Print Council at the
 Impy Pilapil’s work deals with
themes of discovery and extends into
her own personal philosophy of the
world. It is this that feeds her practice
and exists within and around her – it is
also this sense of the universe that has
strengthened her creative energy and
allows her to embody her work and
project a positive response to the
viewers through her interactive and
synergistic installations.
 Pilapil has
always
acknowledged
the inspiration
she has
derived from
the writings of
the Austrian
philosopher,
 Who called his belief system
Anthroposophy (Wisdom of, or
about, Man). In Steiner’s own
words: “Anthroposophy is a path of
knowledge, to guide the spiritual in
the human being to the spiritual in
the universe. It arises in man as a
need of the heart, of the life of
feeling; and it can be justified only
inasmuch as it can satisfy this
 The fall of water into a
cataract is approximated,
which is evoked here as
the rock base of this
stand-alone sculpture.
Adorning the clear,
curvilinear glass, the
green, globular crystals
suggest the areas in which
 Impy Pilapil is part
of the group of highly
talented women
sculptors who
emerged in the 1980s,
primarily making her
mark through her
soaring abstract
 24-piece glass
sculpture with a 2-piece
stand Pilapil's elegant glass
sculpture is flanked by two
boulders of stone. The
contrast between textures
makes it a tactile experience
of balancing delicacy and