Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig: MADE 2023 Special Citation Recipient Michael Art de Leon

S P E C I A L   C I T A T I O N                                   
Sculpture Program

Michael Art de Leon
Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig (A world united by water)

In Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig by Michael Art de Leon, a figure of a man is depicted partially submerged in a pool of clear blue liquid. The artist’s use of resin to materialize water suffuses the work with dimension and dynamic movement, achieving the look of still water. His hands wade gently through the water and ripples around the crystallized shape of the water spur in various places. The scene feels tranquil, almost primal; capturing an intimate moment between two bodies, of man and of water coalescing. The artist particularly comments on the politics of water and how issues regulating access to necessary resources have tidal effects on how daily life is experienced across time and place. In search of peace, the sculpture invites us to reexamine how our primordial connection with water could potentially transform the way we perceive the world and act upon our environment. Text by Janine Bernardo of Metrobank Foundation

Side-by-side sketch and close-up of Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig

Hello, Michael! Please take this time to introduce yourself. How and when did you get into sculpture? 

Michael Art de Leon: I am Michael Art de Leon, a sculptor/visual artist from Orion Bataan. I have a Fine Arts degree in Painting, but I ended up as a sculptor. After graduation, I chose to work two jobs to have a more steady income.

I worked as a full-time graphic artist for a company and also worked as a clay sculptor for a start-up company. I consider myself lucky to be one of the pioneer clay sculptors in the start-up company I worked for, as my boss then allowed me to hone my skills in face sculpting and explore different sculpting materials. While the pieces I produced there were mostly caricature-style sculptures, the experience allowed me to develop my skills and learn from senior artists. That experience pushed me to exhibit some of my works in galleries until it all led to group shows, mentorship, and the decision to become a full-time artist. I resigned from both jobs in 2016 and since then, I’ve only been doing art.

Resin is your medium of choice. How would you describe your relationship with this material? How does it affect your artistic process? 

Michael Art de Leon: Resin is a versatile material. I have produced pieces that I never thought I would because of it. The very reason why I continue to work with resin is because I am never disappointed with the work that I get to produce when I use it.

I do think of exploring other mediums in the future. I want to learn how to sculpt with wood and produce a wooden sculpture that I will be proud of.

You used the image of still water as a symbol of peace. Do you often use symbolism in your work? What other themes and messages do you wish to explore in the future? 

Michael Art de Leon: Yes, I make use of symbolism for many of my pieces. While I look to my personal experiences for inspiration, I ensure that my artworks are reflective of current and pressing issues in our society. I want my artwork to be relevant and relatable to different audiences.

For now, I am still uncertain as to what other themes will I explore in the future. I want to continue working on pieces with the same themes that I currently explore.

Your piece was inspired by the debate on the West Philippine Sea. How is this sculpture reflective of your personal stand on the issue? What kind of actions do you wish to inspire out of people through Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig?  

Michael Art de Leon: Our province, Bataan, is among the most affected places when it comes to the debate on the West Philippine Sea, especially fishermen who depend on bodies of water to survive.

I also believe that we deal with this issue every year and that as time passes, it gets more and more alarming. As an artist, I thought of creating a piece that could remind us of how there was once peace and unity between our country and China. Our ancestors had good relationships then and there were no feuds such as this. The territory that we’re contesting over was once shared by all and was even used by everyone for fishing, trade, and even for crossing from one country to another. It was once something that paved the way for peace and unity amongst people. The issue only started when vested interests arose, with left and right claims separating everyone.

My sculpture shows an image of man with eyes closed, showing how man must not choose to look at water as a possession but embrace it as a natural resource that everyone is entitled to. I created Mundong Pinagisa ng Tubig because I want it to serve as an instrument to bring different people together, just as how oceans across the world are connected. There may have been issues in the past but it would be nice to see the world focusing on the good things. I hope my piece serves as a reminder of how our oceans connect all of us in more ways than one so that we may all find peace in this world.

Is this your first time to join MADE? How does it feel to have your work recognized? What hopes do you have for creative competitions such as MADE in the future?  

This is actually my fifth time joining MADE. I submitted paintings in 2012 and 2016 but didn’t get to push through the next round. I joined for a third time in 2019 with an entry under the sculpture category and still didn’t make it. During my fourth try in 2022, my sculpture was chosen as one of the semi-finalists and even made it as a finalist. This fifth try was honestly a full circle moment for me, as I promised myself that this would be my last time to join competitions so I could focus on doing exhibits. Being an awardee now makes me beyond happy, as my long-time dream of being recognized finally came true.

The recognition that MADE gives to artists is very helpful. The platform allows artists to reach a wider audience and make a name for themselves in the industry. I know of many successful artists who also found their breakthroughs because of MADE and they are proof that this program is effective for those who want to pursue art. I hope that there will be more competitions like MADE for aspiring and starting artists. We all deserve to be given opportunities to showcase our skills and the potential we hold. •

mbfoundation.org.ph.