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“Visions in Glass” Celebrates the Unique Artistry of Ramon Orlina
The atmosphere at the ManilArt fair in SM Aura was electric with anticipation. The country’s art enthusiasts, critics, and admirers gathered for the launch of Visions in Glass, a comprehensive monograph chronicling the career of celebrated sculptor Ramon Orlina.
As guests entered the exhibition hall, their eyes were inevitably drawn to the ethereal Orlina Glass Lounge. Meticulously brought to life by Space Curator Glenn Cuevo, the mesmerizing installation of Ramon Orlina glass sculptures bathed the room in radiant hues.
The space invited each visitor to immerse themselves in the beauty and soul of his work. Each glass sculpture was a poignant reminder of Orlina’s enduring legacy and the transformative power of his art. Amidst the celebration, Ramon Orlina himself engaged with guests with humility and grace.
The collection of fluid forms and radiant colors, honed over decades, showcased Orlina’s vision. Both the book and the event are a profound homage to a national treasure, highlighting his profound impact on the local and international art scenes.
This year marks two significant milestones for Orlina: his 80th birthday and the 10th anniversary of Museo Orlina. These celebrations highlight his personal journey and his enduring contributions to the art world and Filipino culture.
Visions in Glass: Chronicling the Illustrious Career of Ramon Orlina
Visions in Glass explores the groundbreaking work of Ramon Orlina, one of the Philippines’ most pioneering sculptors. Written by art critic Cid Reyes, the book traces Orlina’s evolution from architect to globally recognized glass artist. Through essays and rare visual documentation, Visions in Glass captures the elegance and complexity of his art. It offers readers an intimate view of his process, inspirations, and five-decade commitment to Filipino artistry.
Orlina’s masterful, heat-free techniques transform blocks of colored glass into elegant, carved forms. Orlina evolved from abstract themes to his celebrated explorations of the female form. He consistently uncovered new possibilities in glass with boundless fascination.
Having graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in 1965, Orlina began his career with C.D. Arguelles and Associates before establishing his own practice. However, the declaration of Martial Law disrupted his career in architecture. Despite this tumultuous period, Orlina had to resolve to pivot into what would quickly become his true calling. His transition to the arts in 1976 made him one of the first to use glass as a sculptural medium in the Philippines. This eventually led to exhibitions worldwide.
Orlina’s contributions to art have earned him numerous accolades. This includes the ASEAN Awards for Visual Arts (1993, 1994), The Outstanding Filipino Award (2006), and international honors like the “Mr. F” prize at the 1999 Toyamura International Sculpture Biennale in Japan. His monumental works, such as the QuattroMondial for the University of Santo Tomas, and his museum, Museo Orlina, in Tagaytay, have further cemented his legacy. Recognized alongside global luminaries like Dale Chihuly and Bertil Vallien, Orlina remains a national treasure in the Philippines, celebrated for his unparalleled artistry and innovation in his chosen medium.
A Marriage of Art and Architecture
Ramon Orlina’s work is a seamless fusion of art and architecture. It reflects his foundational training and innate understanding of structural elegance. Orlina brings a unique architectural precision to his glass sculptures. This marriage of disciplines is evident in the meticulous geometry and balanced proportions that characterize his pieces. Each sculpture embodies the principles of architectural design—symmetry, form, and spatial harmony.
Orlina’s architectural background informs his approach to glass. It’s how he constructs the complex forms that evoke both aesthetic beauty and structural integrity. His ability to envision the interplay of light and shadow within his sculptures mirrors the way architects design spaces to interact with their environment. This duality enhances the viewer’s experience, as each piece invites contemplation of both its artistic expression and its architectural sophistication.
Moreover, Orlina’s installations often transform spaces in a manner akin to architectural interventions, redefining the environments they inhabit. Whether creating monumental public artworks or intimate gallery pieces, his sculptures serve as both decorative art and architectural elements. This holistic approach elevates his glass work. But it also reinforces his reputation as a visionary who transcends traditional boundaries, embodying the true essence of both an artist and an architect.
Discovering the Art in Glass
Cid Reyes described the process of writing Visions in Glass as both a challenge and a privilege. “The challenge,” Reyes noted, “was to find the right shape or structure to his life and career.” He likened the project to creating a piece of sculpture itself, carefully crafting each narrative element to reflect Orlina’s prolific achievements accurately.
Reyes emphasized the importance of structuring the book around themes rather than a simple chronology, given Orlina’s recurring motifs and extensive body of work. The final product—a substantial 570-page book with 57 chapters—highlights each significant theme. The artist’s Ningning collection and the Pregnancy sculptures, all have their own dedicated space. “Despite the technical nature of Orlina’s work, we aimed for high readability,” Reyes said, adding that Orlina’s wife, Lay Ann, played a critical role in explaining the intricacies of glasswork, making her, as Reyes put it, “virtually my co-author.”
An Intimate Portrait
To portray Orlina’s work with depth, Reyes made a point to become “intimately familiar” with each sculpture, understanding its elements and the inspiration behind it. “You cannot write about Orlina without grasping the essence that goes into each piece,” Reyes remarked. For him, each work has a rich story, often rooted in a pivotal moment in the life of Ramon Orlina.
Reyes highlighted Martial Law as one such moment, a period that abruptly halted Orlina’s career as an architect but simultaneously catalyzed his journey into sculpture. “Orlina discovered glass as a gem within waste,” Reyes shared. He noted how Orlina’s resourcefulness led him to innovate without the necessary tools, even creating his own instruments to shape glass.
Charting Unfamiliar Territory
Reyes recounted that he initially found working with glass daunting, as it differed greatly from traditional materials like wood or bronze. “Glass was unfamiliar territory to me,” he said, revealing that he typically associated glass with utilitarian purposes. Yet, Orlina’s transformative vision turned glass—a material commonly viewed as ordinary—into a medium of breathtaking artistic expression, elevating it to the status of “gems and masterpieces of light and color.”
Reyes hopes readers would recognize the “astonishing talent of the Filipino artist” through Orlina’s achievements and legacy, challenging the perception that Western art is inherently superior.
“Orlina’s work has global implications,” he emphasized, pointing to his acclaim in Japan, Spain, and the United States. But Orlina’s impact goes beyond his own art. He founded Museo Orlina, a museum dedicated to making his work accessible to the Filipino public. Reyes considers Orlina’s contributions to Filipino art and culture monumental, describing him as a “national treasure.”
Reyes praised the expertise of designer Dopy Doplon, a frequent collaborator. Doplon’s design added visual energy, skillfully blending text and images to create what Reyes called “a sense of surprise” for readers.
Designing the Narrative
Doplon approached the design of this monograph with a specific vision in mind. He wanted readers to appreciate both the manuscript and the visual design as seamlessly integrated elements. “It’s not your typical coffee table book,” Doplon noted. Unlike image-focused publications, Visions in Glass blends imagery and narrative, giving it the feel of a storybook.
He and Orlina started collaborating on the project around 2011. This was during the University of Santo Tomas’ 400th anniversary, when Orlina unveiled his renowned sculpture, QuattroMondial. Over time, through casual discussions and manuscript development led by Reyes, the design concept took shape.
One of Doplon’s key challenges was to convey the dynamic nature of Orlina’s glass sculptures within the static format of a book. “Some artworks were blown up, while others received unique treatments to highlight certain details,” he explained.
Doplon used spot UV gloss on the details to mimic glass’s reflective quality. This created a tactile experience that echoes Orlina’s medium. To ensure an engaging reader experience, Doplon carefully chose the color palette and typography. He used color-coded dividers and related visual cues to create a unified flow across the chapters, enhancing the storytelling.
The choice of typeface was equally deliberate. Although he initially leaned toward a classic serif font, Doplon ultimately selected Garamond. Orlina was delighted to discover that “Ramon” is within the font’s name, a serendipitous nod to his distinctive character. “That made the sculptor very happy,” Doplon noted.
Doplon is especially proud of the layout’s symmetry, which he designed to reflect Orlina’s sculptural style.
Ramon Orlina: A Story in Light and Color
The launch of Visions in Glass at ManilArt in SM Aura was a fitting tribute to the enduring influence of Ramon Orlina in the world of glass art. The event drew a captivated audience who explored Orlina’s artistic journey through the Orlina Glass Lounge.
This installation brought Orlina’s intricate glass creations into a shared, immersive setting. Cuevo encouraged visitors to experience “the beauty, the meaning, and soul of each work,”. The lounge became a focal point of the evening. Guests and art enthusiasts alike found a deeper appreciation for the master sculptor’s work, enhancing the book’s success as a visual and experiential celebration of Orlina’s remarkable legacy.
The highlight of the ManilArt event was the grand unveiling and ceremonial signing of Visions in Glass. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as Orlina officially presented the book to a crowd of art enthusiasts, collectors, and distinguished guests. Adding to the moment’s significance, attendees were treated to a special video directed by Lorenz Roi Morales, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of this extraordinary publication.
The event also drew notable figures, including Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Marichu G. Tallano; National Museum Director Jeremy Barnes; and Chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jaime Laya. Their presence underscored the cultural significance of Orlina’s work and his monumental contributions to Philippine art.
Photographed by Ed Simon.
Read more: Ramon Orlina carves 150 glass pieces for Trinity Chapel’s altarpiece
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