BACOLOD City – Two Negrense artists collaborated to create a masterpiece that pays homage to the country’s beast of burden – the carabao – highlighting its significance to the agricultural heritage of the province.
The five-ton carabao sculpture, “Bao: The Unbowed Carabao”, was created by mosaic artist Lisa Zayco and sculptor Rafael Paderna.
New York resident Angelica Berrie commissioned the creation of “Bao” to be an iconic art personality displayed at The Negros Museum.
“The carabao has nobility, the horns, the lines of the body, the massive scale. In fact, we exaggerated the scale to show how majestic a humble creature can be,” Berrie said.
“Bao” came to life in the garage of Paderna’s home in Bacolod City as he collaborated with his former student in a span of 14 months to create the unique masterpiece.
Paderna said it is just fitting that the carabao was given such prominence in an artwork in Negros Occidental since it has a vital contribution to the sugar industry of the province.
“No other animal has helped the province like the carabao. Try to think, without the carabao, what will happen to the sugar industry in Negros Occidental. The sacadas will then have to do the work of the carabao,” he said.
The delicate mosaic overlaid on the carabao sculpture depicts “the narrative of survival through economic, political, and social turmoil in the sugar industry as a tale of endurance and resilience.”
Zayco meanwhile said she wanted to depict a story that portrays happiness by not adding a political color to the art piece.
“It’s purely sugar story, a sweet, sweet story of sugar,” Zayco said.
The mosaic artist shared that working with her mentor Paderna to create “Bao” has been smooth sailing since they respected each other’s space and respected each other’s knowledge. (With a report from PNA/PN)
