Feature: The Symbols of Alvarado

by Chris Marie C. Dumasis

An artist has the gift, the capacity and the power to create something new, baffling and beautiful. The true artist-painter does not only create what he sees, but he feels, thinks, dreams and believes as well. In Negros, Nunelucio “Nune” Alvarado” is one of those artists I know who could trigger the soul.

This local of Sagay started drawing and painting in high school and pursued his love for pen, ink and colors by taking up a course in Fine Arts at La Consolacion College Bacolod. Many, many years later, I stood in the middle of an ALVARADO Exhibit at the Phinma Gallery of the Negros Museum.

An artist has the gift, the capacity and the power to create something new, baffling and beautiful. The true artist-painter does not only create what he sees, but he feels, thinks, dreams and believes as well. In Negros, Nunelucio “Nune” Alvara-do” is one of those artists I know who could trigger the soul.

I love to hear stories of his eccentricities and enigmas who was once the president of the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros. Personally witnessing the way he presented his craft is such a thrill.

Nune Alvarado’s artworks show impeccable strength, angst, happiness and sorrow. They are all about balance in the spectrum of life, themed heavily on social realism and strongly rooted in the Philippine setting. I can see the underlying symbols, spiritual and emotional iconology in every art pieces exhibited which would last until February 29 at the Negros Museum.

Symbolism in paintings is partly a 19th century art movement in France as part of the 19th century movement. Art was infused with mysticism and a continuation of the “realistic approach to impressionism” reaction. It became a catalyst in the outgrowth of Romanticism’s darker side. It is a technique that uses symbols to represent an emotion, an idea or things.

Sometimes, sheer colors represent an emotion and the symbols are the ones used as an allegory to express meaning and idea. Colors used in paintings have meanings and it is used to express imagination, dreams and spirituality.

One Alvarado artwork is his self portrait “AKO”. The 4 x 5 ft. oil on canvas painting was mostly in red background with a few black shadowy dots. At the center is a serious, seems-to-be-mad-at-something figure of a man with a determined look on his face holding a scythe with his two hands. I cannot forget the veined hands and a pillar of white light present in each hand.

A scythe is a symbol of Death or the Grim Reaper but on the other hand, it is also a tool for reaping crops. The figure of man in said painting will work himself to death for his loved ones to survive. The red background depicts passion and lust. The small, shadowy black dots represent doubts, troubles and uncertainties that life brings - too infinite as to discourage us from living our lives to the fullest. Regardless of the dark night our soul faced, the figure of man in the painting will carry on and will persist being a warrior – with God’s purity, grace and gift of creation ever-present, illuminating in his hands.

And yes, a warrior is what Nunelucio Alvarado is indeed and will always be.

Congratulations Sir Nune!

“Nunelucio Alvarado’s exhibit runs from February 4-29, 2012, Phinma Gallery, Negros Museum.”*