Harry Mark Gonzales
'My love for nature is the major influence in my work'
Harry Mark Gonzales
* The body of the fish is furrowed with wave-like patterns, undulating, streamlined from gills to tail. This sculpture perfectly haunting metaphor for the destruction wrought by the lamentable oil spill
An ecological disaster of immense magnitude and dire consequences, the Guimaras oil spill was a nightmare visited upon a quiet island notably famous for the exquisite sweetness of their mangoes. More than just a cataclysmic event, the oil spill was a wounding and desecretation of nature, indeed a trauma not to be soon forgotten. Like a hideous stain of sin, the menace of the oil spill spead through the once healthy mangroves nurturing the fish of the sea and penetrated within the dense foliage like a cancer that has tenaciously taken residence within.
Thus, the subject of "A Protest Over the Guimaras Oil Spill" by Harry Mark Gonzales, 26. As a native of Iloilo City where the island of Guimaras is a 20-minute boatride away, Gonzales felt the emotional inquiry of the oil spill almost like a personal violation. Indeed, the focus of Gonzales as a sculptor is upon social and environmental issues. To him, these carry "overwhelming sentiments."
A Protest over the Guimaras Oil Spill
What Gonzales did with his material is a tour-de-force, a brilliant and poignant idea --- fired terracotta clay mixed with oil. Noxious black, the very substance absorbed within the earthen red clay. When fired, the black oil stains seeped through like a parasitic organism.
The sculpture is a molded in the shape of a fish but whose visage is that of a woman seen in profile. At once eerie and elegant, the image evoked is that of a drowning woman, her hair streaming through the waters. Her mouth agape, as though gasping for breath, it is, too, a silent scream of horror. The body of the fish is furrowed with wave-like patterns, undulating, streamlined from gills to tail. This sculpture perfectly haunting metaphor for the destruction wrought by the lamentable oil spill. Again, like Picasso's "Guermica," art commemmorates and transcends a real life event of singular significance.
"A Protest Over the Guimaras Oil Spill" is the champion in the sculpture category of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, a national competition held recently. In recognition of Gonzales's work, the City Government gave him an Award of Citation.
Since he was a child, Gonzales loved to draw and work with clay. He revealed that in his elementary years, his notebooks were filled with drawings instead of his school work. "My pad would last only for three days," he said, smiling.
When he was in Grade 6, he was exposed to the wonderful world of sculptures. "My father was the carpenter for the Defensor family. So, he brought me to the Defensor house and there I helped him. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do," he said.
His mentor is Ed Defensor, famous sculpture, whose home garden is filled with large sculptural pieces. "One time, Mr. Defensor needed an assistant for this show he was preparing for. He hired me," he said. "I worked on wood, concrete, stone and metal. My first work was a Madonna and Child. Then, during 4th year high school, I sold my works," he added.
His first competition was the Shell National Student Art Competition and he was hailed as one of the finalists. He was just a first year college student then. "I was able to sell more works after that. I gave money to my mother and bought some things. I also used the money for my allowance. I'm so happy that my works are saleable," he said.
Gonzales entered more competitions after that. If he's not winning in competitions, Gonzales conducts workshops for children. "I want to contribute to society, thus I teach these kids for free. I plan to develop the love for sculpture among the young. Hopefully, I could put up a group. I was a member of the Iloilo Society of Young Sculptors. As an artist, we need to do something. I also accept sculpting jobs and let my nephews help me. Through this, they also earn. These sculptures are being displayed in hotels and other establishments," he said.
Gonzales advises fellow artists to continue creating works. "I discourage one to be just competition-driven or somebody who only makes artworks if there's a competition. A serious artist continues working," he concluded.