• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Negrense visual artist/folk singer Agustin Chavez Jr. opened his second solo art exhibition at the Artfull Gallery, 18th-Lacson streets, Bacolod City, Tuesday, with officers of the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros (AABN) as guests of honor.
Titled “Bugana” (abundance) the show features 26 of his artworks that depict the beauty of his hometown, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, as well as its local produce.
Chavez has been an artist for the past 40 years. A graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Advertising from La Consolacion College in Bacolod City, he embodies the spirit of a true Negrense, having been born in the town of Cauayan in southern Negros Occidental, said his artist’s statement.
From a young age, Agustin’s talent for drawing and painting was evident. His teachers at Cauayan Central Elementary School often asked him to create artwork on the blackboard. Alongside his passion for art, he developed a love for playing the guitar, even using his musical skills to earn extra lunch money.
During his high school years at Cabarrus Catholic College in Sipalay, Agustin continued to nurture his artistic abilities. His sister’s decision to enroll him in LCC-Bacolod for college allowed him to gain further knowledge and experience in art. After graduating in 1985, he pursued a dual career as a musician and a folk singer while working in the Ministry of Health, where he traveled to remote areas to help eradicate malaria.
Post-EDSA People Power Revolution, he went to Manila to find his luck. Agustin found employment as a designer in a garment factory for over two years. Concurrently, he maintained his passion for music and met connections who recommended him to work at Broadcast City Channel 13. There, he joined the Art Department for TV shows, a role that pushed his artistic talents to new heights within the demanding environment of television production.
Agustin also worked in publishing with Asia Graphic Company in Manila and later spent ten years at Bacolod’s Alpha Publishing. Upon retiring, he dedicated himself entirely to his art. His best friend, recognizing his artistic prowess, enlisted him to design product labels for the burgeoning business Pau D’Arco, making Agustin the first artist of the now well-known brand.
Since the early 2000s, Agustin has explored various art styles, including realism, cubism, surrealism, and abstract. He has since developed his unique style, which he describes as modern ethnic art. His works vividly depict the beauty of his hometown Cauayan, its coastline, and the vibrant sunsets and skies. Recurring themes in his art include fishermen’s abundant catches, women selling seafood, and the community’s cultural activities, such as singing and playing the guitar while enjoying local tuba. His paintings also capture the landscapes of his childhood, like the mystical Gintoyo-an falls.
Agustin’s strong connection to his land and the people of Negros is evident in his artwork, making him a quintessential Negrense artist. Since 1994, he has been a proud member of the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros, one of the Philippines’ longest-running art associations and the creator of Bacolod’s MassKara Festival. He has participated in several group shows and is now presenting his second solo exhibition, “Bugana.”*
