Sunday, October 05, 2008
ON HIDALGO, BUSTAMANTE AND AMBETH OCAMPO
This painting, Assassination of Governor Bustamante by Felix R. Hidalgo, is currently undergoing restoration at the National Art Gallery. It was the main focus of Ambeth Ocampo's lecture -- Hidalgo, Bustamante and the Big Black Wolf -- held yesterday at the museum's Ablaza Hall.
It was a riveting two-hour lecture in which from the painting, Ocampo traced the history of the story of Governor Bustamante who was assassinated by the friars during the 18th century and how it spawned the novel La Loba Negra (The Black Wolf) previously believed to have been written by Fr. Jose Burgos, but now proven to be a forgery.
This was the first time I had attended a lecture conducted by Ambeth Ocampo, and I must admit I was spellbound, and now eagerly await the next, which I hope should be in the very near future. I have read many of his books -- sources of numerous blog articles -- and although I am one of those who never asked for autographs (from any of the many film and music artists I had met or run into in my life), yesterday I deemed an exception -- an altogether different situation. Compared to other artists, I think authors loved it most when knowing about or meeting those who actually appreciate their writings.
Hence, there wasn't any trace of trepidation on my part yesterday when I approached Ambeth Ocampo prior to the start of his lecture -- to introduce myself as a big fan while deftly whipping out two books from my bag for him to sign. He was indeed delighted to oblige.
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Please note:
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
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Visit: MANILA PHOTOJOURNALISM
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*
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
*
Visit: MANILA PHOTOJOURNALISM
a work in progress
*
Labels: Ambeth Ocampo, art matters, Featured artist, Philippine history
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:00 AM
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