GENIUS. The reproduced artworks of Francisco V. Coching, the King of Komiks and the country’s National Artist for Visual Arts, are on exhibit at SM Center in Dagupan City, Pangasinan until June 9, 2024. Coching popularized comics, which are reading materials with illustrations and storylines written in the Filipino language. (PNA photo by Liwayway Yparraguirre)
DAGUPAN CITY – Before social media, television and anime, komiks (comics) provided Filipinos with entertainment, through visual arts with storyline.
Reproduced and magnified works by Francisco Coching, the King of Komiks and the country’s National Artist for Visual Arts, are currently on exhibit at SM Center in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, bringing nostalgia to the older generation and sparking curiosity among the younger generation.
"The young people are the reason why we are going around. Yes, there are still fans (of comics) but they are but few already. The young people today are interested in arts but they do not know comics -- where it came from, how it was after the war and how was it in the 50's, 60's, 70's. Through this exhibit, they would learn the origin of comics and hopefully revive their interest,” Mara Coching-Williamson, niece of the national artist who organized the event, said in an interview on Friday.
She said all the artworks at the exhibit, which opened on Wednesday, are reproductions -- some in its original black and white form while some were made colorful to attract the young.
Alma Quinto, executive council member of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Northern Luzon national committee on visual arts, said Coching’s works is about the Filipino story.
“It’s about our culture, about our legends. It’s our soul, our identity as a Filipinos. His works were all Filipino as it should. He doesn’t only illustrate, he also writes, and you can see his very creative imagination. And this is the thing that should be emulated by the young people, especially the students,” she said.
She added that the works of the national artist developed her love for reading.
"I'm very thankful that there is a national artist like Coching who has given [Cebuano warrior] Lapulapu a face. He was so productive that even during the war, he was still producing artworks. He even became a guerilla during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, but because he is gifted, his excellence could be seen in his works,” she added.
Coching’s comics were also adapted into films.
Kenneth Cordero, a senior high school student, said the artworks at the exhibit are refreshing as they are not only representing known and relatable characters but are written in Filipino language as well.
Among Coching’s masterpieces are “Lapu-Lapu,” “Dumagit” and “Hagibis.”
The exhibit will run until June 9. (PNA)
