{"id":1411,"date":"2021-02-28T06:53:02","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T06:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kublaiart.com\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2021-02-28T06:58:23","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T06:58:23","slug":"kublai-millan-captures-mindanaos-cultural-diversity-with-his-powerful-sculptures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/?p=1411","title":{"rendered":"Kublai Millan captures Mindanao\u2019s cultural diversity with his powerful sculptures"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1411\" class=\"elementor elementor-1411\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5818f4ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default stylepress-section-color-normal\" data-id=\"5818f4ce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-37a31b0b\" data-id=\"37a31b0b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-404b4251 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"404b4251\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\n<p>The Davao-based sculptor hopes to create harmony in the region, one monument at a time<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Flying through Davao airport, you\u2019ve no doubt encountered the so-called durian sculpture \u2013 an unmissable, 7.5m concrete version of the spiky fruit. Entitled\u00a0<em>Giant Durian Genesis Lore,<\/em>\u00a0it depicts three pairs of human figures symbolizing the people of Davao: the indigenous Lumad, the Moros and the Christian settlers. The sculpture is an unmistakable call for unity in Mindanao. And just 10km away, in the village of Ma-a, the region\u2019s best-known artist is still devoted to this message.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Surrounded by stacks of wood, steel and found objects, Ray Mudjahid Ponce Millan \u2013 more popularly known as Kublai \u2013 is adding the finishing touches on what he considers one of his most important projects so far. To be installed at the newly opened Maguindanao Capitol, it is made up of 15m sculptures of three traditional weapons used by the Moros: the<em>\u00a0barong<\/em>\u00a0(a leaf-shaped sword),\u00a0<em>kampilan<\/em>\u00a0(a single-edged long sword, considered the national weapon of the Moros) and\u00a0<em>kris<\/em>\u00a0(a sword with a wavy blade). Kublai hopes to show how putting down weapons is an important step in working for genuine and sustainable peace.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Depicting Mindanao\u2019s story is of paramount importance to the artist. Born in Cotabato City in the 1970s \u2013 during the height of the Moro conflict in the region \u2013 Kublai was given both a Christian and a Muslim name by his parents, and this dual identity would later inform his creative pursuits and advocacy work.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-014e4de elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default stylepress-section-color-normal\" data-id=\"014e4de\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b5e805\" data-id=\"6b5e805\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e718d7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e718d7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3757.JES_.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1413\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3757.JES_.jpg 680w, https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3757.JES_-227x300.jpg 227w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-977479f\" data-id=\"977479f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a92e4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5a92e4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A4317.JES_.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1414\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A4317.JES_.jpg 680w, https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A4317.JES_-227x300.jpg 227w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5490af5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default stylepress-section-color-normal\" data-id=\"5490af5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c6e6180\" data-id=\"c6e6180\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc5f6eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc5f6eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Raised in Davao, Kublai spent a few years in Metro Manila where he studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. But deep inside, what Kublai wanted was to go back to his hometown. \u201cMindanao\u2019s landscape and realities have helped shape me as an artist,\u201d Kublai says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Another project currently taking place in his workshop is the renovation of a public park in Upi, Maguindanao that will showcase the diverse but interwoven narratives and cultures of indigenous Tedurays, Muslims and Christian settlers. While the artwork is still unfinished, the message is already clear: that people with different cultures and religious beliefs can share one place and call it home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Creating art for peace is about planting the right seeds and symbolism, Kublai believes. \u201cTo some people they are just monuments. But I look at my works as a spiritual renewal of our vow to the land,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is a land of peace. Let us unite. Let us [uphold] the right values.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">And while art will not change anything instantly, Kublai is confident that his gentle approach is effective precisely because it is neither combative nor preachy. For Kublai, the most fulfilling part of his job is seeing people interact with his pieces. \u201cMy works act like magic portals that create safe and sacred zones. When I see children playing, people smiling and taking pictures with them \u2013 that\u2019s my work of art.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">Source:\u00a0https:\/\/mabuhay.philippineairlines.com\/kublai-millan-captures-mindanaos-cultural-diversity-with-his-powerful-sculptures\/<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Davao-based sculptor hopes to create harmony in the region, one monument at a time Flying through Davao airport, you\u2019ve no doubt encountered the so-called durian sculpture \u2013 an unmissable, 7.5m concrete version of the spiky fruit. Entitled\u00a0Giant Durian Genesis Lore,\u00a0it depicts three pairs of human figures symbolizing the people of Davao: the indigenous Lumad, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1.jpg",1160,775,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1-768x513.jpg",768,513,true],"large":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1-1024x684.jpg",1024,684,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1.jpg",1160,775,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/43A3266.JES_-1160x775-1.jpg",1160,775,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"aaron.vergara@jmc.edu.ph","author_link":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":14,"uagb_excerpt":"The Davao-based sculptor hopes to create harmony in the region, one monument at a time Flying through Davao airport, you\u2019ve no doubt encountered the so-called durian sculpture \u2013 an unmissable, 7.5m concrete version of the spiky fruit. Entitled\u00a0Giant Durian Genesis Lore,\u00a0it depicts three pairs of human figures symbolizing the people of Davao: the indigenous Lumad,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1411"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1419,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions\/1419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kublaiart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}