Lopez Museum, Graffiti Displays

I was invited to tour the Lopez Museum along with the other online media journalists. The paintings were truly amazing and captivating. I have seen different works of Filipino artists but none are as good as the collection at the Lopez Museum. The highlight for me was the Graffiti displays which showed the finer part of graffiti and turned them into art. Some of the paintings reminded me of the streets in Harlem and the Queens. Graffiti or street murals reflect raw emotions of someone else’s life experience. One of the nicest paintings I've seen was that of FPJ’s, the famous Filipino action star which the artist painted because FPJ was his hero in life.

I’ve seen one that reminded me of Manny Pacquiao, angels and Jose Rizal all at the same time!  Some paintings are modernized and reminded me of Toy story, Xmen, Simpsons and transformers. Having seen the various portraits and images, I have come to terms that art happens depending on how an artist gives meaning to things, what his or her passions are and at some point you will know what the artist was thinking and feeling through his or her Obramaestra.

Every artist has their own way of getting their messages across through their art and each artist uses mediums that for others would seem odd. Like this one artist who used glue to paint, or the other who used ketchup! Very unusual method but nevertheless produced a very powerful artwork.

We were then taken to the section where Comics collections were displayed. Major political issues are often the topic for comics and are usually created with humour. Personally, I like how comic artists make a rather serious issue lighter and bearable. Sad but true, comics also play a role why some publications are being banned. Like with what happened to The Manila Chronicles which struck chords because it has a comic strip that shows the actual political scenario and injustices happening to our country at that time. I think it’s a political "iron curtain" and a political blockade when Manila Chronicles were banned and closed. It was a cover up in plain sight. Amazing how a simple walk around the museum made me think of so many aspects in today’s life.

The saddest part of the museum that I’ve seen was the images of the inmates’ life which showed how justice in our country is very slow.  The untold stories of inmates, who were wrongfully accused and their families touched my heart. The images showed how life and situation inside the prison were horrible that you won’t wish for your worst enemy to experience it. The inmates, as part of their livelihood project, made arts and crafts to sell. You can buy them at the Lopez Museum.

The best part on the other hand were the preserved artifacts and several national treasures that the Lopez Museum houses. Makes you feel like you’re in the movie with Nicholas Cage on National Treasure. Imagine a room full of 20,000 local and international books preserved and available at the Lopez Museum. I then quote Jim Rohn, “Rich people got rich libraries while poor people got rich televisions”. Books and art work hand in hand to make one’s life colourful, civilized, idealistic, creative, smarter and meaningful. Did you know that the only thing that stops Hitler from being a warlord is an art sale?

Filipino artists are known all over the world for their original and unmistakable talent. Lopez Museum houses the best of the Filipino artists. You may visit the Lopez Museum located at Benpres Building, Pasig City.

Location: www.lopezmuseum.org.ph
G/F Benpres Bldg. Exchange Road Corner Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center
Pasig, Philippines, 1600
Phone:
(632) 631-2417
Mon - Sat:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm