By: Jeannie E. Javelosa

The visual arts is the truest physical expression of  Man’s values, beliefs and culture. It reflects in form and color the state of humankind’s consciousness in that time. Many have expressed art through the  generations but the existing art today that still stands, are recognized as  national and international treasures of the world, have the mastery and  perfection, the refinement of style, philosophical and powerful meanings and  themes, dynamic innovations and majestic proportions. These are the masterpieces of our world and our race.

These major art pieces are created by Artists of  significance,  artist who, through time, are able to present a changing body of work reflective of their own personal growths and styles. These are the artists who  have dedicated their life to the refinement of their art and to the spirit of  creativity. In their pursuit, they themselves have become  timeless…Michelangelo and Benvenuto Cellini, Van Gogh, Rodin, Picasso, and  locally, Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Fabian de la Rosa, Botong Francisco the  great muralist, Guillermo Tolentino the sculptor.

Many artistic practitioners are good but works are  often decorative in traditionally accepted forms. While the price of their  works are fixed and situated within a time and society, the difference with  works of the Master Artist is that these transcend locality, are enormously  expensive and in time, become priceless.

To distinguish serious artists are their dedication in  the pursuit of the refinement of their art/craft, their lifetime standards to contribute to their field of artistic expression, and not merely the material  or financial returns that their art can bring. Their works during exhibitions  are put to public scrutiny, open to critics to  respond to and analyze their body of  works in which their importance is gauged, their levels of accomplishments  defined and set. Works of the Master Artist are highly celebrated,  collected, and become national  treasures.

Very few national artists reach international  acceptance and command respect and admiration. More such acknowledgement goes to such a Master Artist living and practicing away in a country without strong  global communication, promotions and publicity like the Philippines. Thus,  most of our National Artists are only known locally. However, Eduardo  Castrillo who  has exhibited extensively and has produced commissioned works abroad for the  last forty years of his artistic life.

His monumental  works, as well as the smaller gallery pieces  and sculptured art  jewellery are celebrated in national and international landscapes, historical  sites and cultural institutions, corporate landscapes, important museums,  homes of respected art collectors, are highly published and hailed by art  critics both her and abroad. His work, especially his historical and cultural monuments around the country,  have been cited as exemplary and fitting  for their educational content and value and are widely acknowledged as aiding  in helping educate the Filipino  people.