The Ayala museum is the home of the Philippine’s art, history and culture. It is where collections of iconic paintings, historic dioramas and historic costumes are displayed.
Many of the artifacts are similar to the designs learned in our art class. The beauty of the colours shows how the Filipinos appreciated colours in their design. The visit to the museum made the lectures we heard in our art class come alive. The Museum is consisted of four floors.The top floor having displayed the Gold of the Ancestors, the third floor showcasing 18th – 20th century artists and their art works, the second floor displayed dioramas of the eras that were experienced by the Filipinos, and lastly the ground floor displayed contemporary Philippine art. Upon entering the said museum, I was full of excitement, because of the fact that I haven’t been able to visit any museum within the vicinity since I was still a child.
Having to realize that I will finally see some of the artworks and topics discussed within our class up close and personal.I was really excited. When I visited the museum I didn’t have any tour guide to show me around the museum, I was all alone about to witness the wonders of the Philippine arts and craftsmanship without anyone telling me where to go, where to look and pay attention, But having to go there for the first time, I didn’t know where to go and where to start, and so without any hesitation I was able to ask help from some of the museum keepers and security, where is where? And how could I really enjoy my visit to the museum?The museum keepers advised me to first go to the fourth floor and work my way down in order for me to understand the concept of the museum and the history of the Philippines. Upon entering the first chapter of my visit, which is the fourth floor, I was really enticed by all if the jewellery and porcelain that were displayed to see and studied by visitors. Looking through them, I was able to appreciate every plate, pot, necklace and earing that I saw, they were all made carefully and passionately working through all of the details just to get that very exquisite result.The walk around this floor really made me appreciate all the jewellery and porcelain, knowing that these are not done that easily.
Outside the gold exhibit is where the costumes are in. I noticed some pictures of Damian Domingo’s paintings, below those pictures are displays of actual clothing. The fabrics are really thin and delicate, and the embroideries are very intricate, you can tell its hand sewn. Patterns are very simple, and I noticed many of the pieces share the same pattern.
Finishing my walk around the fourth floor I was able to work my way down to third floor where artworks/ artifacts from the 18th-20th century were showcased.The artworks / artifacts were amazing, just looking at them made me feel special, having the opportunity to look and study them both in class and at the museum made all of my efforts worth it. On the third floor were historic paintings from some of the greatest Filipino artist, some of them was Juan Luna (1857-1899), Fernando Amorsolo (1882-1972), and Fernando Zobel (1924-1984). By viewing the artworks of these artists, I came to see how detailed their paintings are, how the intensity of the lighting can affect the painting’s/picture’s mood.How their details can bring the artworks to life. On the second floor were dioramas that show the Philippines through the years, showing from time of the “aitas“ to the time of the Philippine dictatorship which was the time of Ferdinand Marcos.
The diorama experience culminates with towards a working democracy, a multimedia presentation that chronicles the events that led to the first EDSA people power revolution in 1986, as I’ve said, including the tumultuous 1950’s, the martial law years, and the restoration of the Philippine democracy by a new kind of uprising.Finally about to finish my tour around the museum and working my way down to the ground floor I saw modern and contemporary art, which I can really relate to, basing some of my experience to some of my projects that I had to in my other classes that we need to base our work from some of them. Roaming around the ground floor I saw modern/contemporary art works from artist that I never even heard of, but really gave me “goose bumps” because of their extraordinary way of discerning art, in which really amazed me. Knowing that I too will be and is capable of doing so with just hard work, inspiration, and passion towards my field and profession.All in all my visit in the museum was really fun, but not only did I had fun looking and having to witness the glory of some of the well-known artworks from the Philippines, I was also inspired and educated on how these exquisite artworks were made and preserved all throughout the years.
If I was given a chance to go back there and look at those artworks again I would just to see those artworks/artifacts again, and motivate others to come as well so that not only are we being educated of art but also promoting the glory and beauty of Philippine art.
