National Artist for Sculpture and “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture” Napoleon Abueva passed away this morning, Feb. 16. He was 88.
The artist from Bohol was being treated for pneumonia at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute since January this year. His daughter Amihan was also asking for blood donors that time through Facebook. After almost a month, Amihan announced on the social media site that her father’ breathing had improved.
Unfortunately, the former dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman College of Fine Arts caved into the disease not long after the improvement.
Abueva received the country’s National Artist award when he was only 46, making him the youngest recipient. He was the sculptor behind the bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of the National Library, Nine Muses in front of the UP Diliman Faculty Center, Sunburst at The Peninsula Manila hotel, and the Blood Compact Monument in Bohol among others.
He also designed the doors of the National Museum.
Here’s a documentary on the life of the famed sculptor by the UP Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts:
Photos courtesy of National Commission for Culture and the Arts and MET Museum Manila
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Writer: YAZHMIN MALAJITO
