Edgar Doctor is recognized as one of the most respected Filipino artists. Born in Calabanga, Camarines Sur (1941), he was already interested in the arts at a young age, making his own drawings and collages.
He started participating in art competitions when he was a student of Fine Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas. When he was 18 years of age, his work “Grazing Carabaos, 1960” won 3rd Prize at the Shell National Students Art Competition. Four years later, his work “Rizal Monument, 1964” won him the 1st Prize in this same competition.
Subsequently, he won accolades in the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Annual Exhibition: Into The World of My Own, 3rd Prize, 1965; The Clowns, 2nd Prize, 1967; Economic Aggression, 1st Prize, 1972; Alaala #9 (Memory #9), 3rd Prize, 1976
His sculptural works were also recognized, starting with his “Metropolis #2” for which he garnered the Best Entry Award from the Society of Philippine Sculptors in 1971. His sculpture “Economic Aggression” was awarded the grand prize in 1972 in the AAP Annual Exhibition.
As a master in watercolor art and abstract sculpture, he participated in over 25 solo exhibitions and countless group exhibitions in various institutions and galleries in the Philippines and abroad, such as the International Exhibition of Drawings at the Triennial in New Delhi in 1978, The Festival de la Peinture in Cagnes Sur Mer, France and the VIII Biennial of Fine Arts in Valparaiso, Chile in 1985, among others.
His works belong to many important personal collections and a good number of institutional collections, including the National Museum of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Ateneo Art Gallery, De la Salle University Museum, GSIS Museum, The Central Bank Collection, The Philippine Center Collection, New York, among others.
For his dedication and excellence in art, he has been awarded the Tanglaw ng Bayan Mayoralty Award in 1999 in Calabanga, Camarines Sur. He was recently awarded as one of the Lifetime Awardees of the 4th Las Piñas Kawayan Award for Visual Arts in 2021.
His most recent exhibition called “Harana” was held at Art Lounge Manila’s Molito Lifestyle Center Gallery in Alabang, last February 2023. Art Critic Alex Vergara of People Asia Magazine described Edgar Doctor’s works as:
“Though silent and wordless, his works are nonetheless visually melodious with their lyrical abstract expressionism. Layers of color, in various levels of transparency are punctuated with the rhythm of flowing lines, jagged lines and contrasting colors, imbibing a lively rhythm and complexity to each piece. Each composition is a passionate paean to nature and her attributes as nurturing mother, transcendent beauty, and font of love. In the words of the artist, each piece is “frozen music,” which connects to the innermost being of the viewer.
“Doctor’s “Harana” is a call not only to appreciate and preserve the beauty of nature, but also to ponder community and how we live life in this fast-paced, impersonal metropolis. It is a deep expression of the need to connect with ourselves, each other, nature and the Creator.”
His art exhibition “Harana” was supported by the National Commission of Culture and Arts and by #10DaysOfArtPH, an initiative of Art Fair Philippines to celebrate the best in Philippine contemporary art for 10 days with partners all around Manila.
His recent art exhibit participations include a) the art exhibit of The Distinguished All Thomasian Atelier Alumni, April-May 2022, Artist Space, Ayala Museum; b) “Alaala ng Martial Law”, March 2023, Ateneo Art Gallery in Areté, Ateneo de Manila University; c) the Vision Insight art exhibit, Ayala Museum, Makati, July 2023.
Edgar Doctor was conferred with the title Alumni Extraordinaire by the UST Alumni Association during its Outstanding UST Atelier Alumni Honors gala night, April 15, 2023.
References:
- Art Plus, February 8, 2023
- People Asia Magazine, February 9, 2023
Gallery of recent works
