The recent exhibition ‘Saglit’ reflects on the lifelong journey of this master painter and her long-time, ever evolving muse By Dexter R. Matilla For as long as Fil Delacruz has been a visual artist, the diwata, a mythical being that has always been featured prominently in his works. Filipinos will almost always describe a diwata as something similar to fairies—beautiful and ethereal figures that reside in and protect the forests.
Delacruz is much like many artists, who often seek out their muse, a source of inspiration they hope will elevate their works to levels akin to that of the Old Masters of the Renaissance. Or at the very least have their works talked about as having a close enough quality to it. But those who have sustained their careers long enough to be considered as such are very few and far in between.
Delacruz is one of them. Already established as a master painter and printmaker, the visual artist has won numerous accolades including the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 13 Artists Award and the Benavidez Award for Outstanding Achievement from his alma mater the University of Santo Tomas. In his recent exhibit “Saglit” at Art Lounge Manila at the Podium Mall in Ortigas City the artist turns to his muse once more.
This time, however, long-time followers of Delacruz’s works will notice that the features of the female figures seem just a little bit different. “I have used diwata as my ongoing motif in my art,” he says. “She represents my jour.