In 1991, Vanity Fair magazine featured a naked and very pregnant actress Demi Moore, on the cover of their August issue. The portrait was taken by the famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.
The image was so controversial at that time, that many retailers would boycott the sale and distribution of the magazine. The image, apparently shocking to the public, challenged the tradition of portraiture, that has traditionally concealed or completely hid pregnancy from view.
Almost 30 years later, Leibovitz’s photo of a pregnant Serena Williams for Vanity Fair’s August, 2017 issue met very little resistance signifying at last an acceptance for the pregnant bodies, in art and various media.
The earliest known sculpture of a pregnant woman was called The Venus of Willendorf back to between 28,000 and 25,000 BC. What is strange to note however is that pregnancy as a subject in art has suffered some resistance and taboo.
So it would seem that the only very visible celebration of this beautiful form in art would be Agi Pagkatipunan’s sculpture. And his timing is perfect. Because these artworks actually speak loud for womanhood, pleasant or otherwise. Victim or Madonna here and globally as well.
Art has always portrayed Woman in her many aspects such as a maker of unconditional love. One who held the world on her shoulders. Soft yet powerful, Practical and spiritual, she is a symbol of strength and freedom.
Still in a way nobody sees a piece of wood as a sculptor does — we don’t have the time and to see takes time. It requires that you see this raw material in a three dimensional way. Seeing it from all sides and from top to bottom. And when that’s done it is the viewer’s turn to look at it up close or from some distance. He is now compelled to go around the sculpture, and feel it, touch it, use it. dine on it, sit on it, or simply just marvel at it in silence.
To create something of beauty from old planks of wood, railroad tracks, balusters, stairs, cabinets and furniture from old houses, is a very unique gift. Recycling them to new forms is an act of conservation of nature as well. Each piece of wood, whether raw or finished carries within it, a soul. And so it is really not surprising that artist’s converse with their material. The material tells them where it wants to go. The artist has very little control. All he has is his creative vision, but the material dictates its limits.
The Universe is on the side of this artist’s creativity. It seems that clear messages regarding womanhood and nature have to be seen and heard through subjects utterly familiar to us.
