MICHAEL “XIAO” CHUA
UNIQUE is the “HoCus 2: Cuadricula” among exhibits past and present at the Philippines’ National Museum of Fine Arts because the paintings were credited to a partnership — to two brains. Saul Hofileña — lawyer, educator, collector and historian — had “nightmares” about what happened to Filipinos in the past. Historical events were turned to powerful allegories, symbols and analogies. He is the visionary. But he needed a medium to translate his ideas into art. He found it with an internationally educated church painter and accomplished Rafael “Guy” Custodio who gave to the paintings the feel that they were actually painted from the Spanish period.