The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA)
Published March 02, 2022
According to poet, visual artist, and former Director of the CCP Cultural Resource Department, Sid Gomez Hildawa, “Awards are not necessary to the production of art. In fact, awards and recognition could be counter-productive, as when we forget that self-esteem and self-worth cannot be found outside the self. The artist’s primary obligation when producing artwork is not to a target audience or market, much less to critics or judges; only to the self as a creator in society. For this reason, a number of artists do not join competitions, do not run after university degrees, and do not aim for awards.” In this spirit, while winning a prize can give an artist international exposure, there is also the increasingly vexed question of who benefits from it critically and commercially.
However, winning an award isn’t just for lucrative purposes. Awards are welcome bonuses along the thankless road of art practice. Hildawa says that this kind of recognition is reflective of an artistic support system where feedback is integral to the creative process, providing inspiration while raising questions, contributing to the overall development of critical discourse. And this is precisely the kind of award that The Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA) is.
The Thirteen Artists Awards
The Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA) is a triennial conferment founded by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1970 to give recognition to exemplary artists in the field of contemporary visual art. The TAA started as a biennial event and curatorial project by its first curator Roberto Chabet. The goal was to showcase works of artists who grasped to “restructure, restrengthen, and renew art-making and art thinking that lend viability to Philippine art”. The 13 Artists exhibition was mounted every two years from 1970 to 1980 and was stalled for a time to be revived in 1988, 1990, and 1994. The awards became a biennial event starting 1972 and a triennial event starting 2013.
Through the years, the TAA awardees represented a wide range of artistic practices including film, photography, print, performance, dance, painting, and sculpture. Through conventional and digital platforms, the medium explores the socio-political reality of what it means to be a Filipino in a time of injustice and pervasive acts of impunity. There also has been a move towards more focus on the visual arts, compared to previous batches that included a share of film and theater practitioners. The more recent awardees would also receive a production grant to produce new works for a group exhibition at the CCP.
The nominees of the TAA should be Philippine citizens, under 40 years old, and should possess a “body of work characterized by artistic integrity, innovativeness and forcefulness of ideas” and “responsiveness to contemporary realities,” according to CCP rules. Additionally, a nominee should have “evidence of sustained artistic activity demonstrated by a track record of individual exhibitions and group shows for at least the past three years.” With these parameters, the TAA is deemed as a barometer of Philippine contemporary art.
The Thirteen Moderns
The TAA took after National Artist Victorio Edades’ “Thirteen Moderns”, which grouped the original modernist masters who revolutionized Philippine art by breaking away from the classical conventions that dominated pre-war painting and sculpture. Art historians would later refer to this group as the Thirteen Moderns: Arsenio Capili, Demetrio Diego, Victorio Edades, Anita Magsaysay, Bonifacio Cristobal, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Cesar Legaspi, Diosdado Lorenzo, Hernando Ocampo, Jose Pardo, Vicente Manansala, and Ricarte Puruganan. It was during Roberto Chabet’s tenure as CCP Museum Director that the Thirteen Moderns were lauded for showing “a recentness, a turning away from the past, familiar models of art-making, a movement towards possibilities and discoveries”.
Over time, this series of exhibitions eventually developed into an institutional awards program with a token prize and distinction built on a growing roster of awardees. Many of the artists fulfilled their potential of being prime movers in the contemporary art scene. The first batch in 1970 were Ray Albano, Angelito Antonio, Virgilio Aviado, BenCab, Eduardo Castrillo, Mars Galang, Jaime de Guzman, Manuel Rodriguez Jr., and Antonio Austria. The avant-garde influence of these artists had become today’s mainstream with younger artists exploring yet more radical ideas.
Awardees of the TAA are expected to attract public attention, admiration, intrigue, and some criticism. By challenging conventional modes of practice and perception, and even by defying establishments, they continue the spirit that engaging art embodies: imagination, vigor, critical disposition, and restlessness, working to expand the definition of art in relation to contemporary realities.
TAA Awardees Through the Years
1970
- Raymundo Albano +
- Angelito Antonio
- Antonio Austria
- Virgilio Aviado
- BenCab
- Eduardo Castrillo +
- Restituto Embuscado
- Marciano Galang +
- Jaime De Guzman
- Lamberto Henchanova +
- Noel Manalo
- Ben Maramag +
- Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. +
1972
- Joe Bautista
- Danilo Dalena
- Ibarra Dela Rosa +
- Paul Dumol
- Rodolfo Gan
- Ofelia Gelvezón-Téqui
- Alfredo Liongoren
- Johnny Manahan
- Sofronio Y. Mendoza
- Justin Nuyda
- Romulo Olazo +
- Mario Parial +
- Alan Rivera +
1974
- Dindo Angeles
- Glenn Bautista +
- Ely Gajo +
- Nap Jamir II
- Efren Lopez
- Fernando Modesto
- Nonon Padilla
- Tony Perez
- Yolanda Perez-Johnson
- Rodolfo Samonte
- Manuel Soriano +
- Boldy Tapales
- Nestor Vinluan
1976
- Amable Aguiluz VI
- Augusto Albor
- Genara Banzon
- Huge Bartolome +
- Litz Nievera Benipayo
- Santiago Bose +
- Susan Dela Rosa-Aragon +
- Lao Lianben
- Ileana Lee
- Impy Pilapil
- Judy Freya Sibayan
- Eva Toledo +
- Hermenegildo Tecson
1978
- Mercy Acosta
- Benjie Cabangis
- Ginny Dandan
- Lani Maestro
- Mariano Del Rosario
- Jacinto Sotto
- Phyllis Zaballero
1980
- Ces Avanceña
- Roderico Daroy +
- Nelfa Querubin
- Junyee
1988
- Agnes Arellano
- Roberto Feleo
- Peter De Guzman
- Pardo De Leon
- Dan Raralio
- Jose Tence Ruiz
- Popo San Pascual
- Gerry Tan
1990
- Norberto Carating
- Charlie Co
- Antipas Delovato
- Neil Doloricon +
- Imelda Cajipe Endaya
- Edgar Talusan Fernandez
- Renato Habulan
- Sid Gomez Hildawa +
- RM De Leon
- Julie Lluch
- Pablo Baen Santos
- Jean Marie Syjuco
- Roy Veneracion
1992
- Nunelucio Alvarado
- Manuel Baldemor
- Fil Delacruz
- Brenda Fajardo
- Tommy Hafalla
- Willy Magtibay
- Onib Olmedo +
- Paz Abad Santos
- Soler Santos
- Lazaro Soriano +
- Cesare Syjuco
- Sandra Torrijos
- Roberto Villanueva +
1994
- Elmer Borlongan
- Noel Cuizon
- Francesca Enriquez
- Mark Justiniani
- Antonio Leaño
- Ferdinand Montemayor
- Jonathan Olazo
- Alwin Reamillo
- Arlene Villaver
- Edwin Wilwayco
2000
- Ronald Achacoso
- Juan Alcazaren
- Sari Raissa Lluch Dalena
- Alfredo Esquillo, Jr.
- Karen Ocampo Flores
- Emmanuel Garibay
- Leo Gerardo Leonardo
- Neil Manalo
- Bernardo Paquing, Jr.
- Claro Ramirez, Jr.
- John Frank Sabado
- Jose Santos III
- Katti Sta. Ana
2003
- Leonardo Aguinaldo
- Andres Barrioquinto
- Ringo Bunoan
- Mideo Cruz
- Kiko Escora
- Nona Garcia
- Dennis Gonzales
- Geraldine Javier
- Ronaldo Ruiz
- Wire Tuazon
- Ronald Ventura
- Reg Yuson
- Eric Zamuco
2006
- Poklong Anading
- Jeho Bitancor
- Mariano Ching
- Lena Cobangbang
- Daniel Coquilla
- Louie Cordero
- Lyra Garcellano
- Eugene Jarque
- Jayson Oliveria
- Gary Ross Pastrana
- Yasmin Sison-Ching
- Mac Valdezco
- Jevijoe Vitug
2009
- Buen Calubayan
- Don Djerassi Dalmacio
- Christina Dy
- Patricia Eustaquio
- Kawayan De Guia
- Winner Jumalon
- Racquel De Loyola
- Raya Martin
- Iggy Rodriguez
- Don M. Salubayba +
- Jaypee Samson
- Pamela Yan-Santos
- MM Yu
2012
- Joey Cobcobo
- Marina Cruz
- Kiri Lluch Dalena
- Riel Hilario
- Robert Langenegger
- Michael Muñoz
- Wawi Navarroza
- Leeroy New
- Kaloy Olavides
- Renan Ortiz
- Mark Salvatus
- Rodel Tapaya
- Costantino Zicarelli
2015
- Buen Abrigo
- Martha Atienza
- Zean Cabangis
- Ernest Concepcion
- Vermont Coronel Jr.
- Dexter Fernandez
- Mark Andy Garcia
- Nikki Luna
- Hanna Pettyjohn
- Mervy Pueblo
- Mark Valenzuela
- Alvin Zafra
- Jeona Zoleta
2018
- Zeus Bascon
- Bea Camacho
- Cian Dayrit
- Janos Delacruz
- Doktor Karayom
- Carlo Gabuco
- Dina Gadia
- Guerrero Z. Habulan
- Eisa Jocson
- Raffy T. Napay
- Archie Oclos
- Lynyrd Paras
- Shireen Seno
2021
- Allan Balisi
- Nice Buenaventura
- Gino Bueza
- Mars Bugaoan
- Rocky Cajigan
- Geloy Concepcion
- Patrick Cruz
- Ian Carlo Jaucian
- KoloWn
- Czar Kristoff
- Lou Lim
- Ryan Villamael
- Catherine Sarah Young
Catch the exhibit featuring the 2021 Thirteen Artists Awardees at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from March 11 to June 5, 2022, for more information visit culturalcenter.gov.ph/event/2021-thirteen-artists-awards/
