Death and suffering are parts of our life cycle. It is easy to say this but when we come face to face with the end of life and agony, we become adamant in accepting that fate. The word “death” is not limited to the eternal stoppage of the human heart and the cells being discarded on the surface of our bodies; it can also be associated with the dying will of a person to live, the inability to find a reason to live, a moral principle that was buried, or even a promise that was forgotten. Suffering is also more than just a pain felt by a single person, it can be a decay that can rot a person’s spirit and suffering that can be passed on or shared from one person to another living being. Death and suffering are some of the most simple and common notions that we encounter in our daily lives yet they can still be as complex and intriguing as the first time you heard of the molecular structure of DNA.
Artwork Title: Haligi
Medium: Stoneware
Size: 21 x 10 x 4 inches
Ianna Engaño’s ceramic sculpture, Haligi, is a picture of death – the pillar of the home is dying. Yes, this may mirror the reality that there is a father in his last breath after years of working hard for his family but help came too late. He had been worn out for the rest of his life but distress and poverty still continue to suck him down to the grave that even if you send him aid, it does a little to help solve the problem. This is because of the environment that this father is currently in where everything is a quicksand; it does not allow us to rise from the cold harsh ground.
Haligi installation art is currently seen at Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Makati City, Metro Manila
However, if you look at this work of art from another angle, there’s more to it. The pillar of this home – this country – is dying. What will keep our country strong and what will make its foundation stand tall and everlasting? It is good governance which is deeply rooted in empathy, integrity, innovation, and the mission to serve that should be the pillar of this home. But where is it now? The quicksand is sucking it down to the grave and honestly, we still don’t know how are we going to save it. This is the truth that we cannot unsee or the light that we cannot unsee. Even though we do not have the answers right now, who says that we are going to stop searching for answers? Life is meant for an endless search.
