Pre-Spanish era I 1998
Mixed media including handmade paper, pen and ink, mother of pearl shells, bronze figurines, silver figurines, textile and beads
244 x 183cm
Collection: Hiraya Gallery, the Philippines

Shamanic journey 1994
Mixed media
150 x 270cm
Collection: Boy Yuchengco, the Philippines

John-Frank Sabado states his commitment to the interconnectedness of art, ecology and everyday life in both the images and forms he produces, and in his engagement with the communities with which he works. He says: ‘Steeped in the lore and tradition of the Cordilleras, I am committed to the role of the artist as a social catalyst.’ The hill-tribes of the Cordilleras (northern Philippines) engage in cultural as well as agricultural practices that can be traced to ancient traditions; yet this is a territory that is presently experiencing severe ecological and cultural threat. Pre-Spanish era I and Shamanic journey incorporate many examples of local indigenous craft processes including weavings, silverware and amulets. The artist builds up images through a process of assembling billions of tiny, biro-points of tone until the total surface of the works seem to vibrate with a hypnotic urgency. The works use the traditions of the past to describe haunting, lyrical and evocative possibilities for the future.

Artist's statement:

In the old days, when people were strong and happy, all their power came from the sacred hoop. As long as the hoop remained unbroken, the people flourished.

The patpattay tree was the living center of the hoop, and the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The east gave peace and light; the south gave warmth; the west gave rain; and the north, with its mighty wind, gave strength and endurance.

This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our tradition. Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. Continued adherence to their indigenous culture make the Cordillera peoples distinct from the rest of the Filipinos, particularly those in the lowlands. This difference has its roots in Philippine colonial history. While the Spanish colonists practically demolished the indigenous social systems and traditions of the majority whom they had successfully hispanized and christianized, they failed to completely subjugate most of the Cordillera inhabitants.

This marked difference of the Cordillera peoples from lowland groups confronted the Americans who arrived in the Philippines at the turn of the century. The new colonists came upon hostile groups of unhispanized and 'unpacified' peoples in the Cordilleras. They referred to these groups as 'the non-Christian tribes' or 'natives of Philippine islands of a low grade of civilization'. It became immediately clear to the Americans that these peoples had to be 'pacified' if the American colonial goals were to be achieved.

As articulated by American officials themselves, these goals were not different from those of the Spaniards: 'God, Glory and Gold.'

Steeped in the lore and tradition of the Cordilleras, I am committed to the role of the artist as a social catalyst.

I believe that the artist plays an important role in the community, and must actively participate in the struggle of its people for self determination and national dignity through the arts.