ABDULMARI IMAO

Cittie Jehannida D. Lumna

ABDULMARI IMAO (1936-2014)

A Filipino painter and sculptor

Dr. Imao, known affectionately as "Mari" by his friends and colleagues, led a full and colorful life as an artist. He was the first moro to receive the recognition as National Artist. He came from modest beginnings and worked his way through school and several scholarships to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. In his paintings and sculptures, he used the mythical "sarimanok" of Maranao legends as a visual metaphor for the depth and richness of his native Mindanao, particularly the Sulu archipelago.

The indigenous ukkil, sarimanok, and naga motifs have been popularized and established in the consciousness of the Filipino nation and other people as orginal Filipino creations through his works. His U. P. art education exposed him to Filipino masters such as Guilerma Toneltino and Napoleon Abueva, who became mentors to him.

For Dr. Imao's contribution to Philippine culture and the arts, he was inducted into the Order of National Artists in 2006 and received the Presidential Medal of Merit in 2005, the Gawad CCP para sa Sining in 1990, the Gawad Patnubay ng Sining by the City of Manila in 1985, and the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) in 1968. Dr. Imao's works and themes are deeply rooted in his Muslim upbringing, but he also values a healthy relationship and respectful dialogue with people of other faiths. He is a true scholar, academic, and freethinker. He is a Muslim artist, but he is also a Filipino artist with a style and expression that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. Dr. Imao described himself as spiritual as well as religious. His faith is reflected in the exuberance of his artworks' patterns and colors, which celebrate life without borders.

SARIMAON SERIES. 2008 acrylic on canvas

SARIMANOK SERIES, DATED 1983 brass

WATER BUFFALO

bronze on a wood base

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

"I chose Dr. Imao as my national artist because he is a Muslim and was the first Moro to receive the award. As a Muslim, I want his artwork to be well known, so that even if he is no longer with us, his arts, the sarimanok, fish, and the okir, will be remembered by many, not just by Muslims but by all Filipinos. Furthermore, as part of the youth, I personally think that Imao is a piece of the puzzle that represents the Philippine Islamic roots for a country struggling to piece together its history, culture, and identity. His recognition, though veiled by politics, is one step closer to bridging the gap in art perception between urbanized Christian centers and Islamic Moros."

-Cittie Jehannida Lumna

References:

Order of National Artists: Abdulmari Asia Imao https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/abdulmari-asia-imao/
Dr. Abdulmari Asia Imao, 78 - University of the Philippines Diliman https://upd.edu.ph/dr-abdulmari-asia-imao-78/
Sarimanok and National Artist Abdulmari Asia Imao – Cockfighting From All Over The World – Gameness til the End https://gtte.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/sarimanok-and-national-artist-abdulmari-asia-imao/