IA#10: Museum Visit: Ayala Museum
- Gold Ancestors
There were more than a thousand gold objects in the exhibition that celebrates the sophisticated culture in the Philippines before colonization in the 16th century. Many of the precious objects were recovered in association with tenth to thirteenth century Chinese export ceramics. I think the importance of showcasing this kind of art is to recognize and adorn elite individuals and their deities — that the Philippines has experienced royalty in the past. They do this by including a spectacular array of golden sashes, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and anklets. Here, the role of archaeology in reconstructing the past is illuminated, demonstrating how funerary offerings become valuable sources of information for subsequent generations of the living.
2. Maritime Vessels
This collection of finely crafted ship models paying tribute to ancient boats is worth every visit.The museum also houses a one-of-a-kind boat gallery showcasing miniatures of the different water crafts hat plied the Philippine seas and contributed to the development of Philippine maritime trade and colonial economy. It’s important to exhibit these things because it was part of Philippine History. It shows show our fellow countrymen crossed boarders to attain a certain goal.
3. Fernando Zobel
The life and career of Fernando Zobel (1924–1984) had traversed a large, geographical area — from the Philippines to the United States and Spain. Described as a transnational artist, he felt at home and thrived in any country. Zobel was also pulled in several different directions — to Manila where he was a pioneer in the modern art movement, especially in non-objectivism; to Boston and Providence in the United States where he enjoyed the intellectual stimulation within his circle of friends who were artists and writers; and to Madrid, in the company of Spanish artists at the ascendancy of Spanish abstract painting. Ultimately, Zobel described himself as someone who lives in museums and is happiest when surrounded by books and paintings. His world was the history of art. The exhibition will serve as a visual walkthrough of Zobel’s transition from a more figurative style to his signature meditative, harmonious abstract works, composed primarily of calligraphic lines, gradients and even the positive use of space.
