Guijo Dueñas and The Atlas of Kiirtana
A yogi's practice is expressed through art
The Atlas of Kiirtana
It has been said that Ilonggo artists always excel. Now, that's true. One of those we can bank on is Guijo Dueñas, who recently bagged the first prize in the Philippine Art Awards 2007 Visayas elimination.
His entry, "The Atlas of Kiirtana" bested 196 other entries from the Visayas. Soon, this entry will compete with winning pieces from Luzon and Mindanao.
"The Atlas of Kiirtana" is Dueñas' spiritual piece which he conceived of in 2005. He took his own photo in different poses and emotions. He spent seven rolls of film in doing so. This concept came into fruition by 2007.
This is not the first time that Dueñas's artwork won in the Philippine Art Awards. His piece "Batak Dungan, Kandila, Pinggan kag Tumalambong," became a finalist in the said competition in an earlier year.
A close up of The Atlas of Kiirtana.
Also, he is the father of Eouia Aum Dueñas, an eight-year-old who had been having her own exhibits since she was four.
Get to know more about Dueñas and his artwork in this interview.
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What is a Kiirtana?
Guijo Dueñas (GD): Kiirtana are mantras of eight syllabic words chanted devotionally with right ideation and proper steps in six directions (including ups and downs). Starting with salutations of the hands from the mind to the heart, both hands are raised and the feet lightly tap the ground while simultanteously chanting the mantras. Each tune changes facing the different directions until a certain realization or level of consciousness is reached. That which makes the mind soft, strong and strenuous, so it may keep itself in a balanced state even in the condition of pain --- that which perpetually creates a pleasant feeling within, is called love. Love is identical with devotion. The moment devotion is aroused, the love of God comes.
Batak Dungan, Kandila, Pinggan kag Tumalambong.
KMV: There are seven figures in this piece. What do they represent?
GD: The seven persons represent the seven energy psychic centers of the body, called chakra. If you noticed, I peeled off the skin to signify that all of us are actually the same underneath.
KMV: The face on this piece is familiar. Is that you? (laughs)
GD: Yes, this is my self-portrait (laughs). You could see my mole there. Even my private organ is there, but stripped off the skin. Then, you could see my scar where an operation was made on me. I fell before and they had to put steel to secure my legs. Even the steel is shown here.
KMV: How long did you make this piece?
GD: The concept started in 2005 and the execution took six months.
KMV: And what does the roses signify?
His painting of daughter Eouia Aum.
GD: Fragrance and beauty. If you are doing yoga, you begin to sweat. For vegetarians like us, our sweat becomes fragrant after sometime.
KMV: And the lotus?
GD: Purity.
KMV: Are you a yoga practitioner?
GD: Yes. I've been doing this for 22 years.
KMV: Your topics seem to have made a different turn.
GD: Yes. Before I did pieces on culture, but then I realized that it's not my life. I don't dig culture. Since I am doing yoga, I focused on this instead. My future works will touch on yoga, meditation, breathing, control and the functions of the body.
KMV: When's your one-man show?
GD: This October or November. It will feature 10 of my artworks on yoga.
There you have it. Guijo Dueñas, a very dynamic visual artist who has made a name for himself because he continues to innovate and evolve.