MANILA – Artist and printmaker Pandy Aviado maintains that the most important thing he’s learned over his fifty years in the art industry is humility – a lesson he evidently takes to heart as revealed in his kind and unassuming manner.
His demeanor belies the magnificent darkness that is shown in many of the prints on display at his latest exhibit at the Ayala Museum: Graven Images: 1964 -2014, Pandy Aviado, 50 Years of Printmaking, celebrating his artistic career.
Arranged thematically, the 161 prints include a variety of images: from the character profiles of rockers to colorful patterns, to mysterious shadowy figures.
“Man’s greatest invention is the printed image in paper, and it started thousands of years ago. My personal experience with the printed image started in 1964, when I joined the Shell student competition and garnered the first and the third prizes in graphic arts,” Aviado said at the opening reception of the exhibit.
“Since then my journey to the road less traveled in the field of visual arts had only just begun, I was pretty confident that that will all make the difference. There was no turning back except for tonight as we turn back to remember the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s up to the present century through the prints we see,” he said.
adobo had a quick conversation with Aviado at the exhibit, during which the seasoned artist talked a bit about his process, and shared a piece of advice for young artists.
Which is your favorite theme to work on?
I have no favorite theme. It’s like asking me what my favorite finger is because all of them are connected.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I guess it’s a personal decision of whether I like this or not. I have my own standards of what I like. Actually, I wake up early in the morning to look at my work and see if it’s okay. If not I throw it away.
Do you work every day?
Every day, yeah. From 7 to late.
Is it important to work every day?
Oh yeah, I think it’s dedication. Similar into an athlete, or a piano player, you have to play everyday.
What’s the most challenging part about what you do?
The frustration when you are doing something and it doesn’t come out.
If you have one piece of advice to young artist, what would it be?
What would it be? To take the road less traveled to make the difference.
What is the road less traveled?
Anything that you have to think outside of the box…you should not just stick to rules and follow the crowd. Go where there is less of a crowd – that’s what I meant by going for the road less traveled.
