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LOOK: Amorsolo's paintings on exhibition as LEGO mosaic art

By Kara Santos Published May 10, 2022 5:38 pm

In case you missed it, there's an exhibit of famous Amorsolo paintings recreated in LEGO Brick form ongoing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The CCP, in partnership with the Pinoy LEGO Users Group (PinoyLUG), and with support from the Fernando C. Amorsolo Foundation, Inc., launched “Project AMORsolo,” at the end of April.

The exhibition of LEGO Bricks Mosaic artworks commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the proclamation of Fernando C. Amorsolo as the First National Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts.

The exhibit is free and open to the public up to May 29 at the CCP’s Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby).

The project, which commenced back in 2021, was set into motion under Code Name: AMOR with three teams of LEGO enthusiasts each working separately on plates for three iconic paintings for National Artist Fernando C. Amorsolo. Using certified genuine LEGO bricks, each team created artworks that bridge the past with the present.

Take a look at the famous Amorsolo art pieces and their LEGO versions below.

Bayanihan

Left: Fernando C. Amorsolo, Bayanihan, 59.8 x 85.2cm, Oil on canvas, 1959, University of Sto. Tomas Museum Collection
Right: PinoyLUG Team: BAYANIHAN, After Fernando Amorsolo’s Bayanihan, 158 x 222cm, LEGO ® bricks mosaic, 2022, PinoyLUG Collection.

Each member of the PinoyLUG team that worked on the Bayanihan project practiced the bayanihan spirit in building the mosaic together without expectations—only the realization that they have actually re-created a great masterpiece from the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art,” who brilliantly portrayed the bayanihan custom of coming together in times of need, creating a sense of nationhood that is vital in the Filipino’s continuing formation of his own national identity.

Dalagang Bukid

Left: Fernando C. Amorsolo, Dalagang Bukid, 91.5 x 76.2 cm, Oil on canvas, 1949, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Museum Collection. Right: PinoyLUG Team: DALAGANG BUKID, After Fernando Amorsolo’s Dalagang Bukid, 158 x 121 cm, LEGO ® bricks mosaic, 2022, PinoyLUG Collection.

The Dalagang Bukid LEGO bricks mosaic was executed by an all-female team from PinoyLUG. Inspired by Amorsolo’s idea of a beautiful Filipina—one with a “rounded face, exceptionally lively eyes, and clear skin like that of a blushing girl”, the mosaic is a reflection of what a Filipino woman can bring to our homes with her free spirit and joyful demeanor. Amorsolo iterated his painting several times through different generations and now, PinoyLUG has turned it into a bricks mosaic for the LEGO generation.

Early Traders

Left: Fernando C. Amorsolo, Early Traders, 72 x 96 in, Oil on canvas, 1948, The Manila Hotel Collection.
Right: PinoyLUG Team: EARLY TRADERS, After Fernando Amorsolo’s Early Traders, 235 x 184 cm, LEGO ® bricks mosaic, 2022, PinoyLUG Collection.

The biggest and most challenging LEGO Bricks Mosaic Artwork in this exhibit is patterned after an anecdotal painting that depicts the trade between the West and the Philippine Islands through the Spanish Galleons. PinoyLUG similarly experienced Amorsolo’s course in creating one of his rarest works which involved extensive research, attention to detail, and several preliminary studies before completion.

 

PinoyLUG’s Project: AMORsolo exhibit may be viewed from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until May 29, 2022. Hours are extended until 9:00 p.m. on nights with performances inside the CCP Main Theater. 

Those who wish to visit the exhibit at the Little Theater Lobby are encouraged to observe the CCP's New Normal Guidelines (bit.ly/CCPNewNormal), wear their face masks and bring their vaccination cards.