“BUGLAS”

3 x 6 Meters Mosaic Installation at the Citadines Bacolod.

Centuries ago, Buglas was the Hiligaynon (native language) name for Negros Occidental. It refers to land which was “cut off” from a bigger land mass. This mural is a modern Buglas, a slice of the province’s history and culture.

Rising from the once monocrop industry that was both a boom and bane to the province, a new way of earning has emerged. Giant shrimps and fish jump out of its waters. Weeds and leaves are transformed into functional forms and art. Food that graced local tables of old has become fare for the world’s palate. New ways and movements are present from cycling up its hills to diving deep into the province’s waters. Yet the glory of structures of the past and the stories of its people weave through this piece of art, topped by the majestic Mount Kanlaon.

This mural is a livelihood project of Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) Foundation. It was created by 16 Artisans of Hope who spent four months crafting this expression of history and culture using broken ceramic tile pieces, discarded Nespresso coffee capsules, Capiz shell trimmings and broken glass.