Ben Hur Villanueva
{{Short description|Filipino sculptor (1938–2020)}}
Ben-Hur Gorospe Villanueva (October 28, 1938 – January 25, 2020) {{cite news |title=Filipino sculptor Ben-Hur Villanueva passes away |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/27/20/filipino-sculptor-ben-hur-villanueva-passes-away |access-date=January 27, 2020 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Malig |first=Kaela |date=2020-01-28 |title=Sculptor Ben-Hur Villanueva passes away at 81 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/723848/sculptor-ben-hur-villanueva-passes-away-at-81/story/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}} was a Filipino sculptor, painter, educator, lecturer, and art entrepreneur based in Baguio.{{Citation|last=Atienza |first=Gina G. |author-link=Gina G. Atienza |title=An artist for others |journal=Sun Star Cebu |publisher=Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. |date=November 15, 2004 |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2004/11/15/life/an.artist.for.others.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121094227/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2004/11/15/life/an.artist.for.others.html |archive-date=January 21, 2010 }}
He has also served as a president for the Society of Philippine Sculptors (SPS), as Art director for the Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Inc., and as vice president-treasurer for Unesco's International Art Association (IAA).
Notable works
Ben Hur Villanueva is best known as a sculptor, working with brass, metal, and wood. Notable sculptures by Villanueva include:
- Kapit-Bisig - a commemorative Narra wood sculpture of four figures locking arms, which was presented by President Corazon Aquino to the Filipino people on the first anniversary of the 1986 EDSA Revolution.{{Cite journal
| last = De Leon
| first = Ada Dacanay
| author-link = Ada Dacanay De Leon
| title = Aquino leads EDSA Revolution Rites
| journal = Manila Standard
| volume = 1
| issue = 15
| pages = 1, 2
| publisher = Rodolfo T. Reyes, Standard Publications, Inc.
| location = Makati
| date = February 25, 1987
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19870225&id=nGwVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gwsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3018,1041854
}}
- Among Supremo - a sculpture of Andres Bonifacio in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
- Thy Will Be Done - a sculpture at the campus of Saint Paul University Quezon City
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga - a sculpture at the campus of Saint Louis University in Baguio
- Risen Christ - a statue in Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas
He held regular art exhibitions around the Philippines, and also occasionally exhibited in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Helsinki, and Havana.
Teaching career
Villanueva spent 30 years teaching arts at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School in Quezon City, Philippines.{{Cite web |last=Lago |first=Amanda |date=2020-01-29 |title=Ben-Hur Villanueva and the sculptor who sought to rest with Christ |url=https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/250438-ben-hur-villanueva-and-sculptor-sought-rest-with-christ/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}} In interviews he said this experience convicted him of the importance of the school motto, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" (For the greater Glory of God and A Man for Others). "Every individual has his/her artistic inclinations and propensity be it visual, music, dance, literary, or fashion and so he/she has the right to enhance and utilize it creatively," he is quoted as saying. "Sharing it with others is what makes our life more meaningful and blessed."
Retirement to Baguio and Arko ni Apo
Keeping these beliefs in mind, Villanueva moved to Baguio upon retiring from teaching at Ateneo in 1992.{{cite web|last1=Guerrero|first1=Amadís Ma.|title=Ben-Hur Villanueva: Sculptor with a heart|url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/95021/ben-hur-villanueva-sculptor-with-a-heart|website=lifestyle.inquirer.net|access-date=21 September 2016|date=March 18, 2013|archive-date=20 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220024046/http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/95021/ben-hur-villanueva-sculptor-with-a-heart|url-status=live}} He put up an arts workshop, Arko Ni Apo (Ilocano: Ark of the Lord), and he started spearheading various art-related activities catering to people ranging from professionals, educators, students, young artists, television/film writers and directors, street children, to various religious groups.
Death
References
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Category:20th-century Filipino sculptors
Category:21st-century Filipino sculptors
Category:20th-century Filipino educators