The country had its first National Artist in Fernando C. Amorsolo. The official title “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art” was bestowed on Amorsolo when the Manila Hilton inaugurated its art center on January 23, 1969, with an exhibit of a selection of his works.
#PinoyLUG in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation, Inc. proudly present Project AMORsolo; a unique and original concept of PinoyLUG transposing three great works of Fernando Amorsolo into remarkable masterpieces in LEGO® bricks mosaic art. The exhibit is part of the CCP’s commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Amorsolo’s proclamation as the first National Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts.
Fernando C. Amorsolo
May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972Fernando Amorsolo was one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is best known for his illuminated landscapes, which often portrayed traditional Filipino customs, culture, fiestas and occupations.
In April 27, 1972, he was posthumously honored as the first National Artist of the Philippines at the Cultural Center of the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 1001. The award represents the highest recognition given by the State to deserving Filipino artists and broadens the scope of the Commonwealth Awards and the Republic Heritage Awards.
Throughout his life, the volume of paintings, sketches, and studies of Amorsolo is believed to have reached more than 10,000 pieces. He left behind a trail of legacies around the world in the form of priceless paintings that depicted virtue showed his sense of optimism.
*PinoyLUG is a Filipino community of LEGO® users accredited by The LEGO® Group (TLG) as part of its global network of Recognized LEGO® User Group (RLUG). PinoyLUG, with its passionate members, are actively dedicated to spread the message of LEGO® beyond what it is known for. It aims to promote the culture of Filipino creativity through brotherhood in diverse team-based activities; and to create dynamic communities across the Philippines that build and share together.
Life came to a halt in March of 2020, and people stayed home for the first time to reconnect with their past and brood over things they had failed to do when their minds were pre-occupied with work and the humdrum of daily living. It certainly hit Leslie Araujo of PinoyLUG, the first Asian Ambassador of the Adult Fan of LEGO® (AFOL) in the Philippines, to do a privileged visit of the LEGO® House in Billund, Denmark for deserving RLUGs (Recognized Lego Users Group) seven months before it was opened to the public. The pandemic brought back to life a dream that haunted him from that visit in March of 2017. Leslie delighted and visualized a PinoyLUG display in the famous House of Brick someday, for all the world to see. As to what LEGO® display that would be, however, was a furtive idea waiting to be discovered.
The idea was to choose three notable works of the Master to be transposed into LEGO bricks mosaic art, by a PinoyLUG team working around each painting. Each team participant would be given a mysterious pattern to fill with the code name AMOR. When all the patterns were done, they would be collected and assembled at an appointed venue to complete the mosaic. Only then will the finished project be revealed as Project AMORsolo. Progress in the execution of Project AMOR went slow due to the rarity of shape and colors of the LEGO® bricks that could match those on the paintings, many of which had to be ordered from various sources abroad.
It may have been just a coincidence or divine providence that led Leslie to the postcards that his father had kept through the years, but 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Fernando Amorsolo as the first recipient of the Philippines Order of National Artists in Visual Arts. His masterful use of light, calm and natural composition of everyday life are truly remarkable and complements the LEGO® ideal of creativity, artistry, and joy – shared by everyone from one generation to the next. Project AMORsolo exhibit at the CCP from April 29 to May 29 (Tue - Sun / 10 am - 6 pm) will also have a public run at the malls and hopefully, an international tour as well. Leslie’s dream may yet come to reality at the LEGO® House in Billund.
32 x 32 = 111 pcs.
16 x 32 = 6 pcs.
129 base plates in total
94 - Total Builders/Members
9 - Behind the scene partners
● Adora Macatangay ● Alden Reed Chua ● Aleaina Christlyn Rj Ambrad ● Alejandro Ryan Chua ● Allan Ambrad ● Amy Afunggol-Principe ● Arlie Iglesia Ramirez ● Ashlee Summer Manalac ● Azrael Coladilla ● Benicio Cabrera ● Benjamin Caruncho III ● Bernard V. Sison ● Bernardo "Neb" Andico ● Bjorn Molinyawe ● Bobby San Miguel ● Brenda Mae Dumlao ● Cale Matthew R. Abellada ● Chuck Cabrera ● Crae Michael R. Abellada ● Cris Dumlao ● Cyrus Serrano ● Dave Valeriano ● Deangelo Jacob de Castro ● Djhoanna Juni ● Dorothea Amaraj Macatangay ● Earljon de Castro ● Eleu Bolinao ● Elmer Glenn Bautista ● Emil Yap ● Erwin Jeffrey "Jeff" Elona ● Genesis Badajos ● Haley Ryanne L. Chua ● Herbert Joei Bactong ● Ice Diño Seguerra ● Jac Candelaria ● Jaira Marie A. Suñer ● Jay Gan ● Jayvee Banaag ● Jean Alcoriza Suñer ● Jeff Benitez ● Jocelyn Chua ● Jonathan Lee ● Jonjon Principe ● Justine Raine Chua ● Kandice Chua ● Klark Villanueva ● Kristine Buban ● Kwini Orozco ● Lawrence Francis Yu ● Leonardo T. Valenzuela ● Leslie L. Araujo ● Liam Kevin L. Chua ● Manrico Gianne Malong ● Maria Mylene Lidovina Pablo Ramos ● Marj Lontoc ● Marla De Castro-Rausch ● Marvin Ryan B. Chua ● Michael John Ng Cha ● Mimi Tecson ● Minnie Zialcita ● Moize Roxas ● Mu Florentino ● Ness Pamulaklakin ● Pablito De Villa Jr. ● Ralyn Leo-Niko Baroro ● Randulph Chua ● Raphaell Aaron So + ● Raphaelle Pablo Ramos ● Raymund Chua ● Reymond Aglipay ● Rianne Francesca Chua ● Roan Joy Chua ● Ronald Allan So ● Ronald Chua ● Ronaldo J. Santos ● Teng De Guzman ● TL Salazar Guanzon ● Trahan Lucho Gan ● Trevys Isaac Gan ● Vianne Aglipay ● Yhola Beltran ●
This much we are able to do to ensure that memories of our lives on earth will go on through the recollections of those we leave behind. We all want to be remembered. Even pre-historic men left drawings in their caves as a record of their history and culture, and to let people know that they have been here.
In April 27, 1972, he was posthumously honored as the first National Artist of the Philippines at the Cultural Center of the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 1001. The award represents the highest recognition given by the State to deserving Filipino artists and broadens the scope of the Commonwealth Awards and the Republic Heritage Awards.
Throughout his life, the volume of paintings, sketches, and studies of Amorsolo is believed to have reached more than 10,000 pieces. He left behind a trail of legacies around the world in the form of priceless paintings that depicted virtue showed his sense of optimism.
*PinoyLUG is a Filipino community of LEGO® users accredited by The LEGO® Group (TLG) as part of its global network of Recognized LEGO® User Group (RLUG). PinoyLUG, with its passionate members, are actively dedicated to spread the message of LEGO® beyond what it is known for. It aims to promote the culture of Filipino creativity through brotherhood in diverse team-based activities; and to create dynamic communities across the Philippines that build and share together.
Project AMORsolo will open at the Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby) Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, in Pasay City, Philippines from April 28 – May 29, 2022 (Tuesday to Sunday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) under the sponsorship of Ban Kee Bricks and the Manila Bulletin. It will move to a more public setting after its initial display at the CCP.
LEGO®lizing Amorsolo
Cleaning his house during the pandemic lockdown in 2021, Leslie came across some old postcards with Fernando Amorsolo prints that belonged to his father who was a fan of the great painter. Leslie remembered conversations of his father and their relatives about their great grandfather, Rafael Araujo, Sr. and his wife, Augusta Tiongco who were both painters, and good friends of Amorsolo. In fact, Augusta took painting lessons from him at the University of the Philippines. The postcards and the memories sparked the idea of Leslie’s dream project for PinoyLUG. He would hide it under the code name AMOR. It would be a labor of love; the enormity and the significance of it for the Filipino nation would only be justified by the concerted efforts of PinoyLUG members and their love for LEGO®!
The idea was to choose three notable works of the Master to be transposed into LEGO bricks mosaic art, by a PinoyLUG team working around each painting. Each team participant would be given a mysterious pattern to fill with the code name AMOR. When all the patterns were done, they would be collected and assembled at an appointed venue to complete the mosaic. Only then will the finished project be revealed as Project AMORsolo. Progress in the execution of Project AMOR went slow due to the rarity of shape and colors of the LEGO® bricks that could match those on the paintings, many of which had to be ordered from various sources abroad.
Amongst Amorsolo’s many obras, PinoyLUG picked the "Bayanihan", "Dalagang Bukid" and "Early Traders" for reasons closely associated with the group’s mission of spreading the message of LEGO® beyond what it is known for; to create communities that build and share together, promoting the Filipino’s culture in creativity through diverse team activities. The paintings were perfect examples - for the team that rendered the “Bayanihan” during the pandemic period; to the all-women team that worked on “Dalagang Bukid” that showed the beauty and influence of the Filipino woman in our society; and to the team that executed the awesome “Early Traders” with such passion to capture the imagery of our past when foreigners came to our shores to do business. Re-creating Amorsolo in LEGO bricks like no one has ever done in real Bayanihan style during a pandemic, rekindled hope for our country that we can achieve more if we work together to achieve our goal.
It may have been just a coincidence or divine providence that led Leslie to the postcards that his father had kept through the years, but 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Fernando Amorsolo as the first recipient of the Philippines Order of National Artists in Visual Arts. His masterful use of light, calm and natural composition of everyday life are truly remarkable and complements the LEGO® ideal of creativity, artistry, and joy – shared by everyone from one generation to the next. Project AMORsolo exhibit at the CCP from April 29 to May 29 (Tue - Sun / 10 am - 6 pm) will also have a public run at the malls and hopefully, an international tour as well. Leslie’s dream may yet come to reality at the LEGO® House in Billund.
Specs / Base Plates:
48 x 48 = 12 pcs.32 x 32 = 111 pcs.
16 x 32 = 6 pcs.
129 base plates in total
144,384 LEGO® stud count
Total Participants:
3 - Teams94 - Total Builders/Members
9 - Behind the scene partners
PinoyLUG: Living the Legacy
Not all things that happen unexpectedly turn out to be unwelcomed. For instance, when our country was drawn into the Covid-19 pandemic and people were rendered clueless about what to do and how to go about their lives; families became closer and more in touch with one another. The period of great uncertainty, when one may expect death to knock on his door at any moment, became an opportunity for families to look back together, and remember those whom they have lost in the past.
Transposing his works into LEGO® bricks mosaic was reliving the life of Amorsolo in the new millennium. The spirit of "Bayanihan", the captivating beauty of the Pilipina in "Dalagang Bukid", the candor of our countrymen as "Early Traders" during the galleon trade are historical artifacts - none of which revealed themselves to the LEGO® building teams until the finished plates were put together to form the mosaics.
This project, done with passion and resilience is an embodiment of modern "Bayanihan" - of achieving one goal as a team. This is the story of PinoyLUG that future generations of LEGO® lovers would remember one day when their turn comes to execute new ideas that will surpass and continue the legacy of their forebears.
That legacy is propelled by our vision of cultural stimulation, social responsibility, and inclusivity. It is a legacy of sharing, building, and making new ideas come to life. That is how PinoyLUG would like to be remembered.
#ProjectAMORsolo#PinoyLUG#MasterBuildersOfGoodVibes#FernandoAmorsolo#NationalArtistPh#AMORSOLO
*PinoyLUG is a Filipino community of LEGO® users accredited by The LEGO® Group (TLG) as part of its global network of Recognized LEGO® User Group (RLUG). PinoyLUG, with its passionate members, is actively dedicated to spreading the message of LEGO® beyond what it is known for. It aims to promote the culture of Filipino creativity through brotherhood in diverse team-based activities, and to create dynamic communities across the Philippines that build and share together.
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