Known as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture, he is a master in both academic representational style … It is this aspect of his work that betrays an ongoing affinity with the work and style of his mentor, Guillermo Tolentino, whose oeuvre was monumental in its reverence for the classical school and ancient But, when Abueva polished his stones to create works that, at first, resembled those of Tolentino’s, he also polished his own vision of sculpture and fine-tuned a style that jumps from abstraction to representation. Inherent to the piece is a seeming nod towards the work of Romanian But Abueva’s sculptures, in addition to representing his unique vision, frequently seem to serve a specific function. Napoleon Abueva’s long and fruitful career as a sculptor has lent him the official title of the National Artist of the Philippines, and the unofficial recognition of being the father of contemporary Filipino sculpture.Abueva’s influence on Filipino art has been immense, and his skill as a sculptor spans materials as varied as wood, bronze, coral, and stone. Images, video and other media are credited to respectful owners Samat, Bataan; 14 Stations of the Cross at the EDSA Shrine; Sandugo or Blood Compact shrine in Tagbilaran, Bohol. Reportedly, the only sculpture in his house was a bust of José Rizal, a national hero, poet and political activist living in the 19th century – an apt reminder of the country’s centuries-long struggle for independence in a house owned by Abueva’s parents, both of whom were involved in politics.It was only later, when Abueva was a schoolboy, that he first noticed the sculptural quality of clay and began to mold it into the shape of At that point, Abueva could have realistically pursued an entirely different route, choosing a career in the Abueva’s own style is at the same time incredibly varied and instantly recognizable – many of his sculptures that now sit in public places in the Philippines and abroad convey a sense of realism with their intimately physical presence, lifelike forms and evocative gestures. He also performed the death mask procedures to the late Cardinal Sin and Fernando Poe Jr.Some of his honors and awards are: Awardee, The Unknown Political Prisoner, in the International Sculpture Competition by the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1953); First Prize and Special Award, Kaganapan (Marble), in the Semi-Annual Art Exhibition by the Art Association of the Philippines (1953); First Prize, Kiss of Judas (Wood), in the Religious Art Exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, USA (1955); First Prize, Water Buffalo (Marble), in the Annual Show, at St. Louis , Missouri, USA (1956); First Prize, Figure (Wood), in the Annual Show of the Art Association of the Philippines (1957); Most Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Fine Arts, U.P. Roughly hewn from stone, the sculpture combines straight lines (legs, arms and feet) with curves (buttocks, breasts, back), conveying a powerful voluptuousness and sensuality, both of which hint at the natural beauty of childbirth and motherhood. MANILA, Philippines – National Artist for Visual Arts (Sculpture) Napoleon Abueva died at 88 on Friday, February 16, but he lives on in the work he left behind. One of these, a bronze statuette, represents a mother kneeling, and raising her child high up above her head in a gesture of exaltation, emboldened still further by the natural shine of the material – the scene is resplendent and conveys the pride of motherhood and relationship between mother and child in all their glory.The position represented is strikingly similar to the bronze statuette of a mother holding her child above her head, but the style and form are completely different. For these, Abueva gets his inspiration from a range of sources, including popular mythology, history and day-to-day life. Much of it stands proudly, almost heroically, in public places around the country, and even in the UN Headquarters in Abueva’s career spans over six decades, and he shows no sign of slowing down. 40.5 x 30 cm Wheel of Happiness, College of Fine Arts, UP Dilimansculpture by Napoleon Abueva made for Bismac in the early 60's In 1976, Napoleon V. Abueva, then 46, was the youngest Filipino to become a National Artist. Indeed, perhaps his morphing styles and techniques, which span wood, metal, stone and many other media, retain their spirit of authenticity because of the artist’s fundamental The theme of motherhood, or the archetype of the mother, is present throughout his oeuvre, and serves as a good point of comparison for his varied techniques. Facade of Insular Building with Sculptures of Napoleon AbuevaSculpture of Abueva,1978 , hardwood, 15.9 x 11.8 in. In an interview he once said that “the artist must possess the inner drive, passion, and Napoleon Abueva’s long and fruitful career as a sculptor has lent him the official title of the National Artist of the Napoleon Abueva, The Philippines and the Spirit of Apec, Fiberglass, 157×75 cm, Artist’s CollectionCourtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the ArtistNapoleon Abueva, Family Group, Stainless Steel, Variable Dimensions, Artist’s CollectionCourtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the artist Napoleon V. Abueva is known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" and recipient of the most prestigious award, National Artist of the Philippines in 1976 in the fields of Visual Arts (sculpture).