Sisidlan ng Kabanalan is a prelude to the 40 th anniversary celebration of the
Intramuros Administration and the opening of the Museo de Intramuros. In
1979, the Intramuros Administration (IA) was created for the orderly
restoration and development of Intramuros as a monument to the Hispanic
period of Philippine history. During its early years, IA was active in
collecting art and artifacts from this era. Through the IA’s efforts, an
impressive collection from this aspect of the country’s cultural heritage is
available for the enjoyment of the general public.
This exhibit is a contemplation on the concept of vessels. A sisidlan or
vessel and the holiness or values it contains can take many forms and be
interpreted on various levels: an urna as an artistic and devotional reliquary;
the image of Mary as a signifier of the persona venerated in the Litany of
Loreto as the Spiritual Vessel, the Vessel of Honor and the Singular Vessel
of Devotion; and the museum an entity, both abstract and concrete,
dedicated to the conservation, research and exhibition of cultural heritage.
In a display of urnas from different regions of the country alongside church
altar images of Mary annotated by Martin “Sonny” Tino Jr., the exhibit
discusses the uniquely Filipino language of communicating religious art
and fleshes out its translations in the hands of local craftsmen. The
expressions of religious symbols and personas of Christian faith in art
emanates the values that they represent, and these values were, and still
are instrumental in shaping Filipino culture.
The exhibit will run at the NCCA Gallery from January 11 to 29, 2019, with
the opening reception on the 18 th of January at 4:00 p.m. It is part of a
yearlong celebration of the 10 th anniversary of the NCCA Gallery. As the IA
reaches a milestone in providing cultural services to the Filipino public, it
enjoins the NCCA in a renewed vow to partake in the formation of national
consciousness.