Through his works, the indigenous ukkil, sarimanok and naga motifs have been popularized and instilled in the consciousness of the Filipino nation and other peoples as original Filipino creations. Abdulmari Asia Imao, a Tausug artist, is known for using Okir(Ukil), Sarimanok and naga. His source of inspiration are Tausug art, Meranao art, and Islamic faith. Imao etched trophies with the shape of a swimmer atop a pedestal for the swimmers in Sulu. At that time, swimmers from Jolo were the best bets of the country for the Imao finished high school in 1956. Imao was named National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture in 2006. Abdulmari must have never dreamt early in his life to become a national artist. … He is a sculptor and painter in both classical and contemporary styles, a writer, set/production designer and film maker.
Through his works, the indigenous ukkil, sarimanok and naga motifs have been popularized and instilled in the consciousness of the Filipino nation and other peoples as original Filipino creations.
Named National Artist for Sculpture in 2006, he articulates Philippine Muslim art and culture through his work not only as a sculptor but also as a painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, and writer.
That he is most known for renditions of the brightly hued mythical bird should underscore his mastery of Mindanao iconography. Abdulmari Asia Imao, 73, is the first Moro, and the only one to date, to be honored as National Artist of the Philippines. Though he did not get the grant that year, his perseverance drew the attention of Magsaysay’s personal secretary Jose Ma. During the same year, the Philippine Navy held a floating exhibit named LST which hosted works of Filipino artists, Abdulmari Imao was married to Grace de Leon, an art dealer from Imao died on 16 December 2014 at the age of 78 at his home in A traditional state necrological service and tributes, which is usually given to National Artists, was accorded to Imao on 21 December at the Ansaldo, who paid for his school fees. Abdulmari Asia Imao was a Filipino painter and sculptor. It is given by the Philippine Government, by virtue on Presidential Proclamation No. A Tausūg, Imao is the first Moro to receive the recognition. Imao’s background helped him …
He first trained in the arts under Philippine National Artists for the Visual Arts Napoleon V. Abueva and Abdulmari Asia Imao (his father). Throughout his prodigious life, National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Asia Imao (1936-2014) seemed to have had at his beck and call the sarimanok, avian harbinger of good fortune in Maranao lore.
A native of Sulu, Abdulmari Asia Imao is a sculptor, painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary filmmaker, cultural researcher, writer, and articulator of Philippine Muslim art and culture. Abdulmari Imao, National Artist Abdulmari Asia Imao, 73, is the first Moro, and the only one to date, to be honored as National Artist of the Philippines. His formal training came from the University of the Philippines (B.S. Architecture, Masters in Fine Arts) and Maryland Institute College of Arts (M.A. Aside from being a sculptor, Imao is also a painter, photographer, ceramist, cultural researcher, documentary film maker, writer, and a patron of Philippine Muslim art and culture.
His works mainly focus on cultural work from indigenous forms.
Recommended by his professors, Abdulmari approached President Ramon Magsaysay for a pensionado grant as a Moro student.
Imao, grew up in an island in Sulu, already immersed in organic richness of his surrounding, the colorful patterns and ornaments of Mindanao. Named National Artist for Sculpture in 2006, he articulates Philippine Muslim art and culture through his work not only as a sculptor but also as a painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, and writer.The National Artist award is considered the highest national recognition of Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts.
Copyright 2011 Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication Abdulmari Asia Imao, a native of Sulu, is a sculptor, painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, writer, and articulator of Philippine Muslim art and culture. 1001 dated April 2, 1972, and jointly administered by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).Imao also has the distinction of being the first Asian recipient of the New York Museum of Modern Art Grant to Europe and Scandinavia in 1963.