Ang pinaka-comprehensive at authoritative reference hinggil sa Philippine art at culture ay napadpad sa Batangueño bookshelves sa ginanap na paglulunsad nito sa makasaysayang Acosta-Pastor Ancestral House sa Batangas City noong October 17.
Ang Second Edition ng CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (CCP EPA) ay naglalaman ng ilang most insightful texts hinggil sa artistry ng ating bansa. Dito ikinuwento ni Elmer Gatchalian, Creative Director ng CCP EPA, ang maraming artistic at cultural highlights ng Tagalog province na tampok mismo sa CCP EPA.
“There’s a feature on the Taal Heritage Area, and essays on the ornate churches and heritage houses found in various towns of Batangas, as well as its rich folk art culture. Ample light is also given to the contributions and achievements of Batangueño artists,” ani Gatchalian.
“The CCP EPA as we call it was first published in 1994 in the hopes of creating a reservoir of data on Philippine art and culture and make it accessible to the Filipino audience,” ayon naman kay CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Chris B. Millado.
“Two decades later, the encyclopedia has since changed the landscape on which artistic and cultural expressions are perceived in the country – the recognition we give to artists and artworks have become more varied, and the standards we use are more complex in terms of art criticism and validation, as well as aesthetic appreciation.”
Sa 12 volumes nito, mahigit sa 5,000 entries, at mahigit sa 3,500 mga larawan, ang CCP EPA ay naglalaman ng quintessential o mahahalagang impormasyon sa lahat ng mga Filipino mula norte hanggang timog, urban hanggang rural, at indigenous hanggang contemporary.
“We believe that the most significant contribution of the CCP EPA to Philippine scholarship lies in its conscious shaping of a nation – a nation rooted in diverse cultural traditions, a nation which is people-oriented, and a nation proud of its distinct Filipino identity. Through the encyclopedia, we become more aware of our links to our collective history and to the worldview that we Filipinos should possess in order to pave the way towards a better nation,” pagtatapos pa ni Millado.
Matapos ang paglulunsad nito sa Batangas, ang CCP EPA ay nakatakdang maipaabot din sa mga kabataan na Mindanaoan sa darating na pagpapasinaya nito sa General Santos City bago magtapos ang taon.
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