A VIRTUAL MUSEUM EXHIBIT ALL ABOUT EDUARDO MUTUC
by
- Aren Mina Epia - Jeane Kaye Ogarte - Lance Barrera - Trelie Tagala
Eduardo Mutuc
About Eduardo Mutuc
In the history of Gawad ng Manlilikha ng bayan rewards, there has only been one kapampangan recipient to date, Mr. Eduardo Mutuc of Apalit, Pampanga. He was conferred this prestigious recognition in 2004.
Image Taken from
Eduardo Mutuc | Eduardo Mutuc is an artist who has dedicated… | Flickr
Eduardo Mutuc, also known as "Tatang Eddie", was born on October 12, 1949. He is a Filipino artisan and metalsmith born in Apalit, Pampanga. Eduardo Mutuc is an artist who has dedicated his life to creating religious and secular art in silver, bronze, and wood.
His Skills
He is known to be a practitioner of the craft of pinukpuk which involved the stamping of embellishments on metal sheets. Eduardo Mutuc is a kapampangan who only finished his elementary education and helped his parents by working as a farmer.
He got married by the age of 20 and he had to find an alternative source of income to supplement his earning from farming by starting as a woodcarver at the age of 29.
He worked in an antique shop owned by the Lozano family who were his relatives as a helper.
It was during his stint that he learned woodcarving under Carlos Quiros. On his sixth year, he learned silver plating or locally known pinukpuk from a colleague and left the furniture shop where he was working to be an independent craftsman with another friend.
One of his first clients as an independent craftsman was Monsignor Fidelis Limcauco who commissioned him to create a tabernacle for a parish church in Fairview, Quezon City.
He went on to create other religious works many of which are based on Spanish colonial designs although Mutuc also incorporates his own ideas. He also did works of secular nature, although even in this case rely on religious influence to create such works.
His Greatness Until Now
For more than thirty years now, Tatang Eddie has made his mark as the finest metal craftsmen in the country.
His commissioned works include ecclesiastical pieces such as altar tables and tabernacles, and collectors’ items such as candelabras, picture frames and even salakots. Some of his products are sold at Tesoro’s in Manila.
Clients continued to hire him to construct other works, many of which are inspired by Spanish colonial themes. The weeks leading up to Holy Week and Christmas are the busiest.
He gets his inspirations from old religious designs and incorporates them into the final result.
While he finds satisfaction in creating sculptures for the church, the economic downturn has resulted in fewer requests for commissioned items. Even for his non-religious works, he draws influence from church art.
Artworks
In Sikat Pinoy Art Fair 2014 opening night, Eduardo Mutuc also enters the venue’s event lobby with his artistry in crafting religious and secular art in silver and wood is best exemplified by the pieces on exhibit at his boot.
Image Taken from
The Importance of Eduardo Mutuc
Mutuc’s works are more than merely decorative. They add character and splendor to their setting. His spectacular shiny retablos that decorate an apse or chapel provide focus for contemplation and devotion while the faithful commune with the Divine in regular church celebrations.
His intricately detailed retablos, mirrors, altars, and carosas are in churches and private collections. A number of these works are quite large, some exceeding forty feet, while some are very small and feature very fine and delicate craftsmanship.
To know more about Eduardo Mutuc, here is a video/documentary comprised of details about his life as an artist and his journey to get there, along with one of his children, Eduardo Mutuc Jr. who helps him in his works.
Once you're done, feel free to roam through the pages and see some of his works of art.