Art Criticism:The Family Group

Napoleon Abueva, Family Group, crafted in stainless steel with variable dimensions, from the artist’s collection

     The Family Group (1981) is made of a stainless-steel sculpture, Napoleon Abueva's, on display at the National Museum of the Philippines- BOHOL, an abstract form with geometric details, featuring a unique tapestry of life. The sculpture portrayed a traditional family of a father, mother, and children. This sculpture symbolized resilience, strength, and instilled values in every Filipino family. The sculpture creates a visually stimulating piece with its abstract form to explore the viewer's depth of narratives and ambiguity, appreciating the harmony and balance, making it visually engaging.

    The Sculpture is made of a polished metal that, when reflected by the light, emphasizes the impression of a modern family during industrialization. In this period, steel, copper, and metal alloys were the prominent uses during industrialization, bonding families to a state of structure and planed. Its geometric details allow one to identify the father, mother, and child. Its curvature helps to pinpoint the female and male; the male is relatively wearing pants while the female wears a skirt.

    The Family Group is harmoniously tilted toward each other to have a sense of a unified composition of a strong and dependent family.

  "PAGPAULI," a homecoming exhibition of Bohol's national artist for sculpture, Napoleon Abueva, features his significant artworks, national art pieces, and collection, Human Relations like Family.

    Napoleon Veloso Abueva, the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" is known for his use of a wide variety of media in his artwork focusing on geometric shapes and using uncomplicated lines that create a sense of order, structure, and orientation to a dynamic composition. He used fiberglass, hardwood, metal, stainless steel, marble, bronze, iron, plaster, coral, and brass. Incorporating elements during the industrialization period.