Mauro ‘Malang’ Santos: The Last Master

LEON GALLERY BREAKS OWN RECORD. Ang Kiukok’s The Fishermen went to P56 million hammer, P65 million with premium, the largest work by the National Artist ever put on the block at The Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2017. This broke previous holder Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Fish Harvest at Dawn, which sold for P52.6M with premium. The property of an important institution, The Fishermen depicts three men straining to pull a net heavy with big fishes. It is signed “Kiukok” while the artist’s name “Ang” is discernibly spelled out in contemporary Letras y Figuras. Proceeds from the sale will go to charity.
                               
MALANG’S ART AS ‘FILIPINO.’ Before Cesar Legaspi took a leave as head of the Saturday Group of Artists, he passed on its lead to Mauro “Malang” Santos like HR Ocampo did after his tenure. Malang is raved for his universal treatment of Filipino themes and imaginative use of colors — art as “Filipino.”
Original members Onib Olmedo, Justin Nuyda, Agustin Goy, Juvenal Sanso, Ang Kiukok and Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera were known for excellence of artistry and mastery of medium. Among them, four — Ocampo, Legaspi, Kiukok and Cabrera were eventually proclaimed National Artists.
Malang is the last master as he passed on at 89 at his home in West Avenue, Quezon City on the morning of June 10, Saturday.
Seventeen years ago, the same month as now, I had the unique opportunity to have breakfast with Malang during a freewheeling one-on-one interview in his favorite hangout, McDonald’s along Quezon Avenue, which is across the National Book Store that he frequented to purchase art materials.
The subject range proved relevant until now, even revealing his character as God-fearing, family-oriented, friendly, optimistic, humorous, principled, ordered, loyal and down-to-earth.

How do you assess your chances of becoming a National Artist?
(Laughs) Alam ko ang sasabihin ninyo. You’re already a National Book Store Artist. (More laughter) It’s funny. During Nicanor Tiongson’s time at the CCP, ginawa nila na any organization can nominate a candidate for the National Artist award. Magandang pakinggan but ang actual practice, masama. Anybody can nominate anybody. (E.R.) Tagle nominated (Rafael) Pacheco. Kilala mo si Pacheco? ‘Yung nagpi-finger painting? I confronted Pacheco about it, sabi niya, “‘Padre, ganuon lang naman iyon. It’s only a pat on the back. Itaas mo ako, itataas kita.” I told him, “You don’t play with those things. Serious ‘yung National Artist (nomination).” Sa akin, a, e ‘di inupakan ko ang CCP. At least, Si Nic naman, hindi masyadong bengatibo. Sabi niya,“Malang, bibigyan ka ng Gawad Award.” Sabi ko, “Niloloko mo yata ako.” Sabi niya, “Hindi... hindi!”

But how do you assess your chances of becoming a National Artist?
I’m so much blessed. As you know, my paintings sell, parang ‘ika nga, flavor of the month. Everybody buys them. Nakapila ang mga collectors. Ang price, hindi naman masama. Ang mga anak ko, they are doing well. Walang may sakit sa amin. So ano pa ang hinahanap mo?

You are not looking forward to receiving it?
It’s not that I’m not looking forward to it, I’m not chasing it. Unlike ang ibang artists na kilala ko noong araw na they really went out of their way to get the National Artist award. Ako, I’m not. Kapag binigay ng Panginoon, well and good. Tatangapin ko. Kapag binigay ng Panginoon, bakit hindi ko tatanggapin? Pero for me to seek, sabi ko, “Hindi na bale. Okey lang.” Unang-una, National Bookstore Artist na tayo!

But I think you deserve to be one.
Salamat naman if you think I deserve it. Well and good.Salamat.

Besides having an outstanding body of work that very well reflects the Filipino psyche, you started a school of painting in the country.
(Hesitantly) Ah, yes.

Manuel Baldemor’s style of painting is basically after yours.
Assistant ko ‘yun e. He was one of my artists.

I’m unaware.
‘Yun pa ang isang maaano mo diyan. They will not tell. Ako, I’m happy to tell where I got all my know-how. I always give credit to whomever I learned my knowledge of painting. ‘Yung iba naman, kung ‘yon ang happiness nila, sige lang.

Did you abandon the baruong-barong paintings? (He entered the art world in the ‘60s with his abstract rendition of the barong-barong.)
I have not abandoned it in the sense that my paintings of women now are really an integral part of those barong-barong paintings. Nuong araw, I started with the barong-barong (theme). ‘Yung babae nasa bintana, nasa pinto. Tapos, nagkaroon ako ng mga series ng puno, tapos mga halaman, tapos mga landscape. Ngayon, ‘yung babaeng nasa bintana, siya ngayon ang nagdo-dominate. ‘Yung barong-barong ang nasa periphery ngayon. Ganoon lang naman ‘yun e. Who knows later on I may go back to flowers. Pero right now, sama-sama lahat iyan. May babae, may bulaklak, may barong-barong.

When did this change happen?
Ten years ago.

Have you thought of returning to the barong-barong as the central of your paintings?
I have. In fact, there is a demand among collectors for such paintings.

Are you returning to it soon?
Even if I want to, I cannot.

How’s that?
Simple. I can no longer paint the way I used to paint in the ‘60s. I tried, but I was not happy with the result.

How do you explain this?
I don’t know.

How do you explain that your paintings are the most collected now.
‘Yun nga ang ibig kong malaman. Jokingly, sinasabi kong kailangan na nilang magsuot ng salamin. Pero ‘yung iba ruon for investment. ‘Yung iba talagang gusto ng style ko.

I’m sure most of them are experienced collectors.
‘Yan. Marami naman sila. But the sad thing about it, when my paintings started selling, I started losing friends at the same time. Mga painter-friends.

How do you explain this?
Nagagalit sila.

When did your paintings start to sell? In the ‘60s?
‘Yung selling na ‘yun, konti-konti lang.

Ah, what you mean is selling very well?
Very well! Kung baga, flavor of the month kami ni Ang Kiukok.

Hindi yata. Ang Kiukok is not as prolific as you. And his paintings are not as happy as yours.
E, malungkot ‘yung buhay ng tao.

I think, you are selling more because masaya ang mga paintings ninyo and they are pleasant. With feng shui becoming people’s guide to doing things, I don’t think they would want Ang Kiukok’s paintings on their walls. Do you agree?
I agree with you.

Does it also depend on the artist’s productivity?
Yah, I produce a lot. That’s why I have to exhibit a lot. Si Kiukok, sa istudyo lang niya nagbebenta; kanya-kanyang istilo ‘yan. Ako naman kasi, I would like to be judged by my peers. I also want to help the galleries.

So you started losing friends because naiinggit sila sa success mo?
Sabi nila, ganoon.

Crab mentality ang dahilan.
Crab mentality. Exactly! And these are good friends. We’ve been together for so long tapos mawawala sila. Kaya nga, I’m sad.

Do you think you deserve losing them?
I don’t know how to answer that pero I don’t want to lose them. I’m the type na masaya kapag maraming tao around me. Pero sila ang lumayo. I talked to them pero wala rin. It’s really ano...kung minsan, malungkot.

To be continued...