P.5M sculpture stolen from Rizal Park

This four-foot-tall sculpture by Juan Sajid Imao used to be on display at the garden of the Kanlungan ng Sining complex in Rizal Park. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY NPDC

An artwork of award-winning sculptor Juan Sajid Imao was discovered missing over the weekend at the Kanlungan ng Sining (Artists’ Haven), a complex in Rizal Park, Manila, which showcases art pieces.

The sculpture which shows a folding crown (“tumutuping korona”) is around four feet tall, weighs about 80 kilos and is estimated to be worth half a million pesos.

It was donated by Imao eight years ago to the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), an umbrella group of artists’ organizations which holds office at the Kanlungan complex.

AAP president Fidel Sarmiento said he realized the sculpture was missing only last Saturday as he was taking photos of several art pieces to be displayed on the group’s new website (aapkanlungan.org).

He added that he was not sure when exactly the sculpture was taken as the group had been busy while the complex recently underwent renovation.

“[The sculpture] is one of the priceless possessions of AAP as it is an important part of our collection. And it’s also important for the artist that his artwork is displayed and seen by the public,” Sarmiento said, adding that Imao had yet to be informed of the loss of his sculpture as of yesterday.

According to the AAP official, most visitors to the complex had expressed interest in the sculpture. “They have their picture taken with it and they ask how much it costs but I say it’s not for sale.”

Pressed for the market value of the piece, Sarmiento estimated that it could fetch between P200,000 and P400,000.

Where the sculpture used to stand, there is only a tree stump which served as its base, surrounded by new plants.

Sarmiento said the sculpture was set aside for safekeeping when the garden in the complex was landscaped but he thought it was still within the compound.

“If it was sold, I hope the buyer will learn that it was stolen. I also hope they don’t melt it down or turn it into junk. It will be such a waste,” he added.

Imao is the son of National Artist for Sculpture Abdulmari Asia Imao. The young Imao sculpted the towering statue of Lapu-Lapu and the busts of several other heroes now on display around Rizal Park.

Around eight artworks can be found inside the Kanlungan complex, including that of Benhur Villanueva, Eduardo Castrillo and Primo Libatique. Sarmiento said there used to be more but some were brought home by their artists when these were damaged by Typhoon “Milenyo.”

Kenneth Montegrande, spokesperson of the National Parks Development Council (NPDC), said the agency was helping the AAP coordinate with the police and the contractor which carried out the renovation of the complex.

“There are a lot of questions. The sculpture may have been misplaced by the workers or it could have been stolen. We are conducting an investigation and we will release an official statement accordingly,” Montegrande told the Inquirer.

He added that the NPDC would also review security camera footage in the past two months, the period when renovation in the area began.

“What we could do is ask the AAP to report to us all the art pieces here in Kanlungan so that our office could endorse these to security personnel,” Montegrande said.

Originally posted: 7:57 pm | Monday, October 21st, 2013