Can you imagine a mosaic-collage art made from tiny pieces of dried leaves? Well, that’s easy for Pando.
Renowned and only Filipino leaf artist Fernando “Pando” Manipon is set to have his first international exhibit on August 27 at Philippine Center, 556 Avenue, New York, USA.
Titled “Dahon ng Lahi” (Pages of heritage), this leaf-mosaic-collage will be Pando’s biggest leaf artwork showing 43 detailed artworks made from tiny leaves.
“My concept here is very Filipino. This art encourages everyone to remember our roots, where we started,” Fernando Manipon said in an interview.
“This will depict Philippine history, culture, traditions, folklores, and influences. It will remind everyone what the Philippines is all about,” he added.
An example of artwork he will soon present in New York is the “millennial tree of Balete” in Aurora which he used the exact leaves from the Millennial tree.
“I used the natural color of the dried leaves, focusing on its natural hues,” he said.
Also, the Philippine traditional Maria Clara dress was made from skeletonized leaves, and the white embroideries were garlic peels to assimilate the pineapple fiber and hand-made embroidery works.
“The flesh of the subject are pixilated to 1/2 centimeters and you need to zoom in closer to see the details of the cut leaves,” he said.
Way back in 2015, Pando created a St. Peter’s Basilica art made from leaf-mosaic-collage presented in an ostrich egg, which was given personally to Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines.
“I am trying to depict realism. I’m still in control of the leaves, of the medium, of the colors. I want to express my identity in a unique form,” Pando explained.
“I would like to thank the organization for giving me the chance to expose my talent to the world. This achievement is not only for me but also for all Filipinos,” he added.
Pando’s international exhibit was made possible by San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry New York and San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry Philippines.
