HALL OF FAME

BENEDICTO CABRERA

ART

A master of contemporary Philippine art, Benedicto Cabrera or BenCab is a National Artist for Visual Arts and a prominent figure in the culture scene. In many ways, his reputation precedes him; yet Cabrera’s own advice is simple and straightforward. “Work hard on your art and do your best,” he says. A famous painter and printmaker, he is the man behind the elusive , a scavenger woman the master had glimpsed early in his career in the slums of Bambang. Since then, has become an influential symbol for both him and his followers, one that speaks of despair as a commentary on society. “I continue to be interested in new techniques, collaborations with other artists and other things that stimulate my creativity,” he says. It is perhaps this love of learning espoused by Cabrera and other Filipino artists that has earned our local arts scene such prestige. In fact, Cabrera attests that: “Philippine art is at par with the rest of the world.”