Shoulder Wars: Elmer Borlongan turns playful in bronze

Elmer Borlongan’s Shoulder Wars has an Artist’s reception May 18, 2024, 5:30 p.m., at Vetted, 126 Mile Long Arcade, Amorsolo St., Makati.

A delightful scene of summer fun is now immortalized in bronze, thanks to Filipino artist Elmer Borlongan. His sculpture, titled Shoulder Wars, depicts two men in swim trunks engaged in a playful battle, perched on the shoulders of friends submerged in water.

Borlongan drew inspiration for the piece from cherished memories of spending summers with loved ones, filled with laughter and lighthearted competition around the pool. “The subject,” he explains, “was about taking a break and playing.”

This playful vignette first appeared as an oil painting on canvas in 2015, initially titled Chicken Wars. Later renamed Shoulder Wars, it was displayed at the Alliance Française in an exhibition centered on the theme of water. The artwork eventually found a home in the collection of landscape consultant and bonsai proponent Roberto Gopiao.

In 2018, Gopiao approached Borlongan with a proposition: translate Shoulder Wars into a three-dimension sculpture. Through a contact in Xiamen, China, a foundry specializing in bronze casting was enlisted for the project. Borlongan oversaw the creation of a maquette, a miniature clay model that served as blueprint for the final 7ft.-tall sculpture. The completed clay model was then shipped to China for casting.

The resulting trio of bronze sculptures now graces three distinct locations: Gopiao’s serene pond in his getaway in Lucban, Quezon; the garden surrounding Borlongan’s studio in  San Antonio, Zambales; and soon, a spot in the artist’s own pond, bringing the fun water play of Shoulder Wars full circle.

The spirited Shoulder Wars takes centerstage in a forthcoming exhibit of the same title. The show at Vetted, a creative space established by interior designer Jonathan Matti at 126 Mile Long Arcade in Amorsolo St., Makati, will showcase both the original oil painting and the 3-foot-tall bronze sculpture.

While the sculpture offers a new dimension and texture beyond the painting, both sculpture and painting carry Borlongan’s signature mark. Bald heads, big eyes, and elongated limbs characterize his figures, imbuing them with a sense of expressiveness and a touch of tension between competition and cheekiness. “The sculpture is a continuation of my style,” Borlongan tells TheDiarist.ph.

For collectors seeking a piece of this mischievous spirit, 16 smaller versions of the Shoulder Wars sculpture can be had.

Borlongan’s artistic journey began far from the lighthearted world of poolside games. At the University of the Philippines, he was associated with social realism, a movement that utilized visual art as critique of society. As a member of Artista ng Bayan, alongside influential figures like Emmanuel Garibay, Jose Tence Ruiz, and Mark Justiniani, Borlongan tackled social inequity, politics, and religion, drawing inspiration from the struggles of the common man.

His social realist phase, which began in the late 1980s, transitioned towards a softer approach in the early 1990s. Eventually, Borlongan found himself drawn to the expressive energy of figurative expressionism, where the artist’s emotional response to a subject takes precedence over a purely objective representation of reality. His shift was influenced by his participation in the Salingpusa art group.

He and fellow young artists, inspired by Onib Olmedo, Danny Dalena, and Jaime de Guzman, sought a visual language that resonated with their own experiences. Unlike the nostalgic depictions of rural life favored by other artists, the Salingpusa group aimed to capture the essence of the modern Filipino living in an urban environment.

“We were searching for directions on what to paint,” Borlongan recalls. “We were city boys. We painted our environment.”

For Borlongan, technical virtuosity and photographic realism weren’t the defining factors of a meaningful artwork. “My approach is how to interpret your subject matter from your heart,” he explains.

This focus on interpretation translates into his signature style, characterized by exaggerated figures to evoke heightened emotion. Proportions are deliberately distorted, and bodies elongated, drawing influence from Expressionist masters such as Max Beckmann, Kathe Kollwitz, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Siqueiros.

‘The hair is the crowning glory…. I removed that so I can focus on facial expression’

His decision to depict bald figures is particularly noteworthy. “The hair is the crowning glory,” he says. “You immediately identify his character by his hair or hairstyle. I removed that so I can focus on facial expression.” This deliberate removal allows the emotions on the faces to be the focus.

The artist’s evolving style, from social critique to urban exploration and emotional depth, reflects a continual search for a visual language that captures his world.

The evolution extends beyond the two-dimension world of paintings and sculptures. He has also dabbled in creating art toys, specifically for Secret Fresh, a local collectible store and gallery.

Fueled by the global phenomenon of collectible art toys designed by artists, collector and entrepreneur Big Boy Cheng envisioned a Filipino version featuring local artists. Borlongan was among those invited to participate.

In 2012, Borlongan brought his signature style to the world of collectibles with the creation of Hari Sonik. This figure embodied his artistic trademarks: a bald head, large eyes, and elongated limbs, all housed within a speaker box torso and completed with Converse sneakers.  He notes that many local toy manufacturers could customize quality collectibles.

Hari Sonik’s 45-piece limited edition release coincided with Borlongan’s 45th birthday. Since then, limited edition plastic versions in various colors have been produced, landing in collectors’ homes.

Hari Sonik has transcended the toy format. The Pinto Art Museum houses a 3-foot-high version, while an avid collector owns a staggering 6-foot-tall rendition.

For collectors who can’t snag one of Borlongan’s original paintings, his designer toys offer a unique alternative.

Another notable piece, 3-foot-tall  DJ Microgroove, a depiction of a DJ spinning, made of painted fiberglass resin and metal, was a nod to his passion for vinyl records. “I supervise the making of these toys. A mold is produced from clay to produce several models,” explains the artist.

Borlongan’s artistic curiosity isn’t limited to paintings, sculptures, and art toys. The pandemic saw him revisit the art of printmaking. In contrast to the digital platform, Borlongan delves into the traditional realm of hand-made etchings on wood. This return to printmaking rekindled a passion ignited during his studies under mentors Rod. Paras-Perez and Mario Parial at the UP College of Fine Arts.

“Painters such as Rembrandt and Picasso explored other mediums,” Borlongan notes. “Creating freely is a privilege,” Borlongan says, reflecting his artistic philosophy—a constant push to refine his skills and explore new materials.

As his artistic journey unfolds, we eagerly await other fresh creations born from his ever-evolving vision.