WVCST CENTENNIAL AWARDEE ART GEROCHE
Painting through history

By Wein P. Gadian

Arrival of 10 datus from Borneo

Artists create their work to communicate ideas, thoughts or feelings. They use a variety of methods—painting, sculpting, or illustration—and an assortment of materials, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencils, pen and ink, plaster, clay, even computers. Artists' works may be realistic, stylized, or abstract and may depict objects, people, nature, or events. Thus, a look at it would tell a story. He does not limit himself in what he sees, or on pictures he can replicate. Rather he creates his own thus producing an original work.

Spanish Wedding in the Philippines

Every artist has his own distinct style. Just like Art Geroche who is known as an Ilonggo historical painter. His works bring to mind the story of our past.

Geroche is a Drafting graduate of Western Visayas College of Science and Technology and Education graduate of Central Philippine University. His contribution to arts especially to WVCST made him one of the school's Centennial Awardees this year.

The classic touch

A glance of Geroche's work reminds us of the impressionist artists of Europe between 1867 to1886 whose works are characterized with an accurate and objective record of visual reality in terms of transient effects of light and color. Mostly are outdoor scenes, bright and vibrant with images devoid of detail but with bold colors. In the list of great impressionists were Edouard Manet, Camille Pissaro, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot and Pierre Auguste Renoir. Today, only few are practicing such style and Iloilo is much blessed with a man like Geroche.

Geroche' s works are inspired by local history particularly the significant events like the arrival of the ten Bornean datus and the barter of Panay.

“It's important that we know our history, so that when foreigners ask us we could always retell it to them,” says Geroche.

His classic touches could also be gleaned from his paintings ‘Spanish Wedding in the Philippines' or ‘Sunday' which portray Filipino life during the Spanish occupation.

Geroche also has works with religious themes like ‘The Passion', where he made a series of paintings depicting the passion of Jesus Christ, and ‘The Last Supper', which is quite unique as it is presented on a different angle, that is, from the left side of Christ.

However, Geroche does not limit his works in painting. He is also a graphic artist, cartoonist, illustrator for magazines and publications. His artworks were once featured in the pages of Liwayway, Hiligaynon, Banawag, Free Press and other national publications. He has also done illustrations for textbooks, coloring books for children and others.

Publishing a series of books (in full illustration) for kids depicting the various epics and folklores of the country and the mural of the Hinilawod (Epic of Panay) on the walls of the West Visayas State University Cultural Center are among his masterpieces. Now, his archetypal illustrations could also be seen regularly in the editorial cartoons of The News Today.

The painter

Crucifixion of Jesus

Geroche's passion for the arts started when he was still young. His years of experience continue to retell our heritage as depicted in his works. He spends two hours everyday enjoying his craft, that is, painting.

“I am already old. I want to spend most of my time painting,” he says.

Real artists never claim they are. In silence they fervently do their work, restructuring and giving room for improvements. “A painting isn't done overnight. It takes days or even months. My works are not done in a single sitting. I do several revisions until I become satisfied with the result,” says Geroche.

As a painter he shares: “One should start from the basics: shadings, perspective, lines, colors and shapes. These are equally important. And when you paint focus on your style…forget the works of other artists you want to imitate. It has to be your own original work without replicating a picture or a painting. It's just like singing Tom Jones' song with your voice and not trying to sound like him.”

Indeed, Geroche's passion for his craft makes him a respected individual in the field. He will be receiving a recognition from his alma mater, WVCST, this September 9 being one of the institution's Centennial Awardees.