Monday, October 1, 2012

Taka: Paete paper mache



Paper Mache is an art that is no joke. When you look at it, at first you will just see a plain object but when you experience to touch it and look at it closer, it is a very good art. It was good to see paper Mache in front of your eyes because it is different compared to pictures. Our professor in ESTHETA brought samples of different figures made of paper and placed it on the table. She wanted us to experience the Paper Mache by looking at it closely and touching it. Since a few students only went in front to take pictures and look at it closely, I decided to look at it later during break time. Our professor introduced again to us the figures that are made of paper in front and I was surprise when she banged the Paper Mache horse in the table. Knowing that it didn't break, I was excited to look at it. It was compared to the cat that was brought also because it was made of fiber glass. It looks great as well but compared to paper, it is unbreakable unlike the fiber glass.



Samples (Picutre by Jorell Gonzaga)



In Paete, Laguna, they have this paper mache which they call Taka. When you go there, they say that you will be welcomed by the workers that are laying brown paper or newsprint paper mache pieces on the roadside. They do this for drying. I guess when you go to Paete, you can see so many figures made out of paper and you cannot stop looking at them. It is very Filipino for me because the figures that I saw were like Filipino women and other things related to Philippines.




Taka in Paete, Laguna



Paper was not used as a medium for art but it was used as an art itself. Looking at it personally and looking at the pictures as well, it is very colorful and you can really see how the human's creativity works. I hope that this kind of Filipino folk art would never be forgotten because this is a gift from our Creator.





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