Ghosts from Atrocities

in #art6 years ago

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WARNING:


Some of the artworks contains graphic images

Images that some may find disturbing and upsetting

Please do not proceed if you do not want to

see art depictions war atrocities and suffering.

 


Gallery VIII of the Philippine National Musuem called Silvina and Juan C. Laya Hall. This gallery contains depiction of artist during World War 2. The exhibit expresses suffering, destruction and death during this dark time in our history. These events happened in the past which is a reminder for us about the ugliness of war. History that should not be repeated as it only brings despair to humanity. Local artists from the dark era captured and depicted scenes during the Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1945.

 

The Burning of Manila


1942

Artist - Fernando Amorsolo

Oil on Masonite

 


Painted by Fernando Amorsolo who is one of our National Artists. He is known for his art depicting landscapes, Philippine culture and customs. His popular works shows peaceful landscapes with natural light and backlighting technique. From his light and peaceful creations he shifted to scenes of destruction due to this time of war. A depressing era but after the war he reverted back painting landscapes and culture.



Also a part of the gallery is the Liberation of the Philippines by American forces.



Landing of the Liberation Forces in Lingayen


1940

Artist - Eduardo Perrenoud

Oil on Wood



The Leyte Landing


1948

Artist - Romeo V. Tabuena

Oil on Lawanit


Bombing has caused destruction and left places in Manila to ruins.



Ruins of a Quiapo Street


1949

Artist - Nena L. Saguil

Oil on canvas



Ruined Gate of Fort Santiago


1949

Artist - Nena L. Saguil

Oil on canvas


More ruins from popular places in Manila captured by artists.

Top left

Ruins of Quiapo


Bottom left

Ruins of Escolta


Right side

Ruins of Sales street in Quiapo


Artist - Diosdado Mo Lorenzo

1946

Oil on panel



Burning of St. Domingo Church


1942

Artist - Fernando Amorsolo

Oil on Canvas


Another work from Fernando Amorsolo capturing the burning church. Known to be the first church to be destroyed during this war. A direct hit from a bomb left the church in ruins.




Evacuation


1949

Artist - Oscar R. Espiritu

Oil on Canvas

 

The savagery of war left many people homeless and forced them to flee the war torn city.



Fugitives from the Japanese


1944

Artist - Dominador Castaneda

Oil on Board



A Plea for Freedom from Fear


1949

Artist - Fermin Gomez

Plaster of Paris




Ruins of Legislative Building


1945

Artist - Fernando Amorsolo

Oil on Panel

Perfectly captured the destroyed building in 1945 but was reconstructed in 1949. It was used by Congress and now serves as the National Museum. It was reconstructed using old recovered blueprints and most was done only by remembering how it looked like.


This section focuses on the Bataan Death March where 60,000 to 80,000 Americans and Filipinos were forced to march for almost 70 miles. During the march almost 20,000 died and at the prison Camp O'Donnell additional of more than 20,000 also died.



A Tragic Lesson (The Fall of Bataan)


1957

Artist - Gene Cabrera

Oil on Canvas




Bataan Death Marcher


Undated

Artist - Gene Cabrera

Metal and Wood



Graveyard Scene


Undated

Artist - Carlos Valino Jr.

Oil on Canvas


More people have died at this camp due to disease or killed. People died in hundreds per day and was buried in mass graves.



Capas


1948

Artist - Demetrio Diego

Oil on Canvas


A scene after the death march where prisoners are suffering from disease in over crowded barracks. No medical care was provided and American medical prisoners took care of the sick with very little medical supplies.



Mealtime at the Prison Camp


1945

Artist - Wenceslao S. Garcia

Oil on Canvas


This section of the gallery was the hardest to look at due to the disturbing, violent and graphic scenes.



Rape and Massacre in Ermita


1947

Artist - Diosdado M. Lorenzo

Oil on Canvas


A very painful scene that shows the ugliness of war. No nation should experience to go thru such ordeal. A dark time in history that should never ever be repeated again. Now just a painful memory and a scar to those who survived that ordeal. A painting remains which is a lesson for humanity that war only leads to pain and death.




Death March


1948

Artist - Dominador Castaneda

Oil on Canvas


Scenes of hopelessness and despair.



Ravaged Manila


1945

Artist - Dominador Castaneda

Oil on Canvas


These are ghosts of the past, time passed apologies and memorials have been made. Moving on is the road to heal the pain and suffering from memories from the past. It is a painful history which cannot be undone but moving on, learning from the past mistakes and helping each other to ensure that war atrocities will never be repeated again.


Resource
All information sourced and photos are original shot from
Nationalmuseum

Bataan Death March

Fernando Amorsolo

Old Legislative Building



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All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 and 12-32 mm









Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://watersnake101.vornix.blog/2018/07/27/ghosts-from-atrocities/

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Woah!!!! Some seriously intense imagery!

Yeah it is intense. I had a really hard time deciding if I was gonna share it. At the museum it was really hard looking at it knowing that it did happen in the past.

I am sure! In fact I am actually quite surprised that you were even allowed to take photos.

Yes they allowed non flash photography but some private museums they don't allow photography completely. Like in the pink church museum that I shared days ago so much cool stuff but no photos allowed.

Yeah they dont allow it here either.

These are some awesome paintings. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for having a look.

I appreciate your perspective

It is a painful history which cannot be undone but moving on, learning from the past mistakes and helping each other to ensure that war atrocities will never be repeated again.

I fear that if we try to erase the ugly parts of our past we will be more likely to relive them. I don't believe in celebrating the atrocities, but I do believe that their evidence should serve as reminders of places/times we do not want to return to.

I agree so many atrocities has been committed in the past and should not be erased. At this time and age it saddens me when cruel and inhumane acts still happens on parts of the world.

I came here thanks to the attractive title, being an horror fan I am quite use to seeing strong content.

This was quite an interesting art gallery.

I am quite a horror fan myself, somehow I felt the subject of this art gallery is a bit sensitive. I was a bit worried that some may not like it due to the topic. There are some other photos that I left out. I am glad you took interest in the topic.

These are great artworks, and it is important for a country to document it's history, both good and bad. These are things that future generations need to see.

Correct a part of history that should not be covered and to educate to future generations. Never to be repeated again.

Such beautiful ugliness portrayed in these pieces of artwork! The history is awful, but the need for a memorial is so important. Thank you for sharing them.

I'm passing this post off to c-squared in the hopes they pay your quality post a visit!

Thank you for checking despite the warning. Topic about war and atrocities is difficult to share. You do not know how people would react. I thank you for the support my friend.

You are most welcome @watersnake101! I taught high school history for years and realize the importance of knowledge and remembering our history.


This post was shared in the Curation Collective Discord community for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account after manual review.

It is a really intense en sad gallery you posted here. But something we may never forget about and I only can hope that we learn from history.

It is very saddening just thinking about the suffering and ordeal. Not only that but also living in fear.

True, and to think that it can happen anywhere around this globe again is even more saddening.

nakakapanghina pgmasdan ang mga pangyayari noong unang panahon.. Dko rin ma imagine kung anung stigma ang dinaranas nung mga nka experyensa ng ganitong pangyayari.. pero sa mga imaheng ito nagpapatunay kung gaano ka tibay at katatag ang mga pilipino..

Totoo kaibigan, we survived and stood back up. A nightmare that no human should go thru. If you get a chance ro visit Manila do visit the museum.

It continues to happen- that is the worst part. Incredible art...a lesson still to be learned.

It's very sad indeed we all feel safe and secure but bad things still happen. Some we do not see.

Unless it happens in our own back yard it is easy to not focus on it.

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